PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Uttarkashi
Many locals and activists demonstrated at Harshil in Uttarkashi on Sunday against the plan to axe a large number of mature deodar trees in the area for widening of the all-weather road between Jhala in the Harshil valley and Bhaironghati. Tying ‘Raksha Sutra’ on the trees for their protection after worship, the locals, activists and people from other parts of the country attended the demonstration. Environmental activists Suresh Bhai and Kalpana Thakur stressed on the importance of the deodar trees and the scientific requirements for the road widening work. They said that cutting thousands of deodar trees in the eco-sensitive zone will not only damage the environment considerably but also prove to be detrimental for the Gaumukh glacier.
The protest movement earlier began in Delhi on November 27 where farmer leader Bhopal Singh Chaudhary exhorted the public to protect the trees. When the demonstrators reached Harshil on Sunday, they said that marks had been made on deodar trees upto 100 metres from the road on the Gangotri national highway. They questioned why such a large stretch of trees had to be cut for a road meant to be about 10 to 11 metres wide, adding that no expert will find this logical. They said that a strong and durable two-lane road which is six metres wide is adequate for the requirements. This will also ensure that the traffic and relief works can be facilitated without disruption at times of disaster, they said.
The protesters also heard the message of BJP veteran Murali Manohar Joshi. He said, “While Bharat is mour mother, the Himalaya is our father. Protecting them is our responsibility. The deodar trees are like guards in the protection of our heritage and so it is vital to save them,” he said.
