Once again, thousands of trees are being sacrificed in the name of development in Uttarakhand. The approximately 20-kilometer highway from the Bhaniawala area of the capital Dehradun to Rishikesh is to be widened to four and six lanes, for which approximately 3,000 trees are being felled. Local residents and several social organizations are protesting the large number of tree fellings. They believe the cutting of such a large number of trees will have a serious environmental impact.
The NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) is widening the highway between Bhaniawala and Rishikesh to address the increasing traffic pressure. The 20-kilometer highway will be widened using a hybrid annuity model at an estimated cost of approximately ₹743 crore. The four- and six-lane highway will not only ease the journey from Dehradun city to Jolly Grant Airport but also save time for people traveling to Rishikesh.
Local residents and environmentalists protested outside the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) office around 4 p.m. on Wednesday against the felling of trees for the four-lane construction. A large number of people participated, raising slogans in support of environmental protection, and registering their protest through folk songs.
Environmentalists stated that given the current traffic situation between Dehradun and Rishikesh, there is no significant need to widen the road. They argued that cutting down thousands of mature trees cannot be justified when this route does not regularly experience severe traffic jams.
Environmentalist Anoop Nautiyal stated that decisions that harm the environment in the name of development should be reconsidered. There is no real need to widen this highway. Environmental activist Himanshu Arora stated that this area is a natural habitat and important movement route for elephants. He added that the Supreme Court, in its 2020 Madhumalai judgment, provided clear guidelines for the protection of elephant corridors. Therefore, haste in felling trees is not justified. Environmentalists warned that their protest would continue.