Guwahati, Aug. 10 -- Residents and local organizations in central Assam's Tezpur have registered protest against a massive excavation project in the Dhenukhana Hills, fearing a range of severe environmental and cultural consequences.

The excavation is being conducted by a Rajasthan-based construction company, M/s Balaji Construction, for a water supply project under the Assam Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board, with a contract worth approximately Rs 70 crore.

Locals said the Dhenukhana Hills are more than just a landscape feature; they form a crucial natural barrier that protects Tezpur town from floods and other natural disasters, and also plays a vital role in influencing the city's climate.

Protesters, including local villagers a...