National Green Tribunal to hear case on felling of trees for widening Sahastradhara Road

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) will hear a case on Tuesday regarding chopping down trees on the Sahastradhara Road.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) will hear a case on Tuesday regarding chopping down trees on the Sahastradhara Road amid protests from green activists and residents.

The petition has been listed for hearing on July 26. The petitioner said that all authorities have been informed on this matter.

On the other hand, the protestors can be seen hugging the trees to protect them from being chopped down.

According to locals, more than 500 trees have been cut down till now. While they face police harassment, protestors also alleged that fruit trees have also been cut down as they are coming in the way of expansion. Allegedly, the authorities have also marked an old Banyan tree which shelters a revered local temple. People have also cautioned against probable damage to the temple owing to the cutting down of the tree.

The protestors also alleged why the tree felling was first being done at Sahastradhara Road - ITPark area, when it is in the middle of the tree felling course as per the plans.

A video of an ambulance getting stuck following the tree felling exercise has also surfaced. The protestors levelled allegations that now even a human's life is at stake.

Bharti, a resident of Sahastradhara road area, said that we can look at the situation of metropolitan areas where, despite having 6 lane roads the daily traffic jams continue to woe commuters everyday. How will it make a difference in a small hill capital of Uttarakhand.