Uttarakhand: Nainital High Court bans cutting of 3300 trees for four-lane road, orders to save the forest

The Nainital High Court has banned the cutting of 3300 trees in the name of road widening in Uttarakhand. A four-lane road is being built from Dehradun Rishikesh to Bhaniwala. During the construction of the proposed four-lane road, about 3300 trees are to be cut. A citizen of Dehradun had taken this matter to the Nainital High Court from the point of view of environmental protection.

High Court bans cutting of 3300 trees in Dehradun

The division bench of the Chief Justice of the Nainital High Court has taken a tough stand and banned the cutting of about 3300 trees from the point of view of environmental protection. In fact, Dehradun resident Renu Paul had filed a PIL in the High Court. In her PIL, Renu Paul had said that due to the construction of the four-lane road, about 3300 trees will be cut between Bhaniwala-Rishikesh. The places where the trees are to be cut are elephant corridor areas. In such a situation, elephants will also be in danger. Therefore, cutting of trees should be banned. While hearing the case, the High Court’s division bench of Chief Justice G Narendra and Justice Ashish Naithani has banned the cutting of trees.

Trees were to be cut for the proposed four-lane road

• Petitioner Renu Paul, who reached the High Court, says that the place where the four-lane road is now proposed, already has a better two-lane road. The construction of the four-lane road will result in the cutting of about 3300 trees. Also, the elephant corridor will be adversely affected. In the coming time, elephants will move from the area to another place, which will also be very dangerous from the environmental point of view. Therefore, the matter should be taken seriously from the point of view of environmental protection. Local people have also protested against the cutting of trees in the area.
• High Court Nainital stays the proposed felling of 3300 trees between Rishikesh-Bhaniawala
  Hearing a PIL, the High Court has stayed the felling of trees
• Petitioner’s advocate Abhijay Negi argued that this road widening comes in the middle of the Elephant Corridor.
  Earlier also, Shivalik Elephant Reserve was protected after the intervention of the High Court

The government said that it has been ensuring the movement of elephants

While staying the felling of trees, the High Court asked the government to present all the permissions before the court–
The petitioner was also asked to present in the court through Google Images which parts of the road the corridor passes through
The court also said that if any road passes through the corridor, then the government’s lawyer should advise them to build a flyover, because it cannot be blocked.

This area is full of biodiversity

The area between Rishikesh and Bhaniyawala in Dehradun district is known for its dense forest and biodiversity. It has numerous species of trees including Sal, Rohini, Kanjoo and Amaltas, which provide clean air to Dehradun district and shelter to other wild animals including elephants. According to an estimate, there are more than 700 Sal trees in this area. About 900 Kanjoo trees are also said to be found in this area. This forest is especially known for Rohini trees. The number of Rohini trees is said to be more than 1000 here. Amaltas trees are also found in abundance here. Along with this, other local trees are also the life of this forest.