environment

Uttarakhand Halts Tree Felling for Bhaniyawala-Rishikesh Road Amid Protests

Published on: 19 Jul 2026, 06:50 AM

The Uttarakhand government has suspended the felling of trees for the Bhaniyawala-Rishikesh road project in Dehradun following widespread protests and the filing of a First Information Report against several individuals.

The project, undertaken by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), involves widening a 19-kilometre stretch near the airport. It had proposed the removal of 4,369 trees for construction.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that he has taken a 'serious note of concerns' and directed the Chief Secretary and other officials to hold detailed consultations with all stakeholders, including residents, public representatives, and experts, before resuming any tree-felling activities.

In a statement, the NHAI claimed that it had deposited over Rs 1.97 crore towards compensatory afforestation and its maintenance for the next ten years. Additionally, 40 hectares of non-forest land have been transferred by the state government to the Forest Department for the development of new forests to offset the loss.

The decision to halt the tree felling comes as a response to environmental and community concerns, reflecting the government's commitment to balancing infrastructure development with ecological conservation.

Source: Indian Express

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