Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced a temporary stop to tree-felling for the Bhaniyawala–Rishikesh highway-widening project in Dehradun’s ‘Saat Mod’ forest stretch. This decision comes in response to ongoing protests against the felling of over 4,000 trees for the road expansion.
Environmentalists and locals have been demonstrating against the project, with some even observing a ‘Black Harela’ instead of the traditional Harela festival to raise awareness. CM Dhami emphasized the importance of considering public sentiments, environmental factors, and stakeholder concerns before proceeding with the project.
The Chief Minister highlighted that the highway-widening project is a significant initiative by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and assured that wildlife conservation measures, such as an elephant underpass and special culverts for smaller wildlife, are being incorporated to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. The project, spanning approximately 20 kilometers and costing Rs 743 crore, is being executed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).
CM Dhami stressed the need for balanced development while respecting public sentiments and environmental interests. He instructed officials to engage in dialogues with local communities, public representatives, and experts to address concerns and ensure consensus. The felling of trees for the project will remain suspended until a mutually agreeable solution is reached with all stakeholders.
