Thousands of trees are being felled for the Dehradun-Rishikesh highway widening. Environmentalists have now launched a campaign from the streets to social media. Just before Uttarakhand’s folk festival, Harela 2026, on Wednesday, July 15th, environmentalists launched the “Black Harela’ campaign to protest the trees being cut for road widening.
Through this campaign, environmentalists, social activists, and local residents sought to convey their concerns to the government. This protest wasn’t limited to the streets, but a large number of people are also joining the campaign on social media.
Uttarakhand has long been facing challenges like climate change and rising temperatures. At this time, the large-scale felling of trees for development projects is becoming a growing concern.
The dispute concerns the seven-turn area of the Dehradun-Rishikesh National Highway, where approximately 3,000 trees are to be felled for road widening and flyover construction. Trees have been identified for the project, and the cutting process has begun. Environmental organizations and local residents have protested the plan since it became known. They argue that the area where the trees are being felled is already environmentally sensitive. They argue that felling a large number of trees will not only reduce the green cover but will also adversely affect the local diversity of wildlife and the microclimate of the area.
Environmentalists allege that the government is continuously damaging the green resources in the name of development projects. He says that while road widening and traffic improvements are necessary, alternatives can also be explored that minimize tree cutting. With this thought in mind, he has launched the “Black Harela Campaign.” Under this campaign, people are posting black symbols and special messages on social media. Additionally, events are being organized in various locations in support of environmental protection.
Surprisingly, this campaign was launched just one day before Uttarakhand’s folk festival, Harela. Today, July 16th, the entire state is celebrating Harela. Harela is a traditional folk festival of Uttarakhand. Harela is considered a symbol of greenery, environmental protection, and respect for nature in the state. It is noteworthy that the state government also organizes large-scale tree planting programs every year. However, this year, thousands of trees are being sacrificed by this same government even before the festival of greenery. Uttarakhand is slowly losing the very thing for which it is famous. The public will have to bear the brunt of this tampering with nature.