NHAI and PWD Respond to Protests Against Felling 3,000 Trees for Highway, Say Project Follows Legal Procedures, Report Says

Current Summary

The Uttarakhand High Court has declined to stay tree felling for the Rishikesh-Bhaniyawala four-lane highway project, The Times of India reported on the evening of July 11, identifying the specific project behind protests over tree felling. Earlier, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Public Works Department (PWD) had responded to the protests, stating that the project complies with legal and environmental procedures, according to an ETV Bharat report of July 11. A Hindustan Herald report published on the morning of July 12 put the number of trees being felled at 4,700, a notably higher figure than the roughly 3,000 trees cited in earlier reports; this discrepancy has not been reconciled, and it is unclear whether the reports refer to the same scope of felling. Rishikesh and Bhaniyawala fall within Dehradun district. The bench that heard the matter, the grounds petitioners raised, the court's detailed reasoning, whether any felling has begun, compensatory afforestation plans, and whether petitioners intend to appeal have not been detailed in available signals. Tree felling for road widening has been a recurring flashpoint in Uttarakhand, with citizen protests in Dehradun and along Char Dham route works.

What Changed

• 12 Jul, 07:50 am
  A Hindustan Herald report published on the morning of July 12 states that 4,700 trees are being felled for the Dehradun-Rishikesh highway project, a figure substantially higher than the roughly 3,000 trees cited in earlier reports on the Rishikesh-Bhaniyawala four-lane project. The discrepancy between the two figures has not been reconciled, and it is unclear whether they refer to different sections of the same project, different counting methods, or an error in one of the reports.
• 12 Jul, 06:51 am
  The Uttarakhand High Court has declined to stay tree felling for the Rishikesh-Bhaniyawala four-lane highway project, clearing the way for the project to proceed, The Times of India reported on the evening of July 11. This is the first signal to name the specific highway project at the centre of the protests against felling around 3,000 trees. The bench that heard the matter, the grounds on which petitioners sought a stay, the court's reasoning, and whether petitioners intend to appeal have not been detailed in the available signal.
• 11 Jul, 12:00 pm
  Signal detected: NHAI and PWD Respond to Protests Against Felling 3,000 Trees for Highway, Say Project Follows Legal Procedures, Report Says

Background

Tree felling for road widening has been a recurring flashpoint in Uttarakhand, with citizen protests in Dehradun and along Char Dham route works. Environmental clearances for highway projects in the state have previously been contested before the High Court and the Supreme Court.