DEHRADUN: Taking a cue from Mahatma Gandhi's non-cooperation movement, Dehradun residents, including children and van gujjars (tribals who rear cattle and survive on forest produce), gathered at Asharori on Saturday on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti to protest the proposed felling of 11,000 trees for construction of the Delhi-Dehradun expressway.
The trees, including century-old British-era Sal trees, are to be axed for the development of a four-lane elevated road from Ganeshpur (Uttar Pradesh) to Asharori (Uttarakhand), a 19.5 kilometre stretch. The matter is sub-judice in court now, but conservationists alleged that UP authorities have already started tree felling in an eco-sensitive zone of Rajaji Tiger Reserve that falls under their jurisdiction.
The ‘Mohund Chalo’ march was kicked off from Asharori forest check post at 10am on Saturday. Protestors walked chasing slogans and holding placards with messages like ‘Go Green or Go Home’, ‘Dehra-doomed’ and ‘Congratulations you have saved 11 minutes by killing 11,000 trees’.
Anku Sharma and Dr Aanchal Sharma, founder members of The Earth and Climate Initiative NGO, said Gandhi Jayanti was the perfect occasion to protest against the “despotic strategies of the government”. “GoI is marking Wildlife Week starting today to next one week, yet it is felling trees and destroying the habitat of wildlife,” said Ira Chauhan, member, Citizens for Green Doon.
A van gujjar, Mohammad Jumman, told TOI that the area was once single-laned and only a bullock cart could pass through. “Do we really need wider roads? We need forests and wildlife,” he said.
Meanwhile, a statement released by 18 NGOs in the state said, “Much of the fun of visiting Doon Valley lies in cherishing the sylvan quiet hilly forested terrain with its birds, bees, elephants and leopards. Destroy their habitat, flatten the terrain and then sit pondering why tourism in our state has taken a hit. The beauty of Uttarakhand is not man made, it is nature’s gift to humanity, to be cherished and protected.”
Reenu Paul of ‘Rajpur Community Initiative’, the high court petitioner in the case, told TOI, “Shivalik Hills lie on the entire stretch from Ganeshpur to Dehradun. Trees should not be touched by the authorities here,” she said.
