Protest against move to cut over 300 ‘heritage’ trees
Written by Ayan Samajdar THE JESSORE Road Gachh Banchao Committee (JRGBC) on Saturday took out a rally and staged a demonstration in Kolkata against cutting of trees in Jessore Road area to construct six rail gates and overbridges. The committee also celebrated the golden jubilee of the Chipko movement on Saturday. Members of the JRGBC […]
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Members of the Jessore Road Gachh Banchao Committee during a demonstration in Kolkata on Monday. (Express Photo Partha Paul)Written by Ayan Samajdar
THE JESSORE Road Gachh Banchao Committee (JRGBC) on Saturday took out a rally and staged a demonstration in Kolkata against cutting of trees in Jessore Road area to construct six rail gates and overbridges.
The committee also celebrated the golden jubilee of the Chipko movement on Saturday. Members of the JRGBC and residents of Jessore Road area took part in the rally. After the demonstration, they raised slogans on saving trees and the environment.
In 2018, the Supreme Court upheld a Calcutta High Court order allowing the felling of the trees. Arpita Saha, a JRGBC member, said, “We want the Supreme Court to preserve the heritage trees of Jessore Road.”
On August 31, 2018, the Supreme Court upheld a Calcutta High Court order allowing the felling of the trees.
The first tree wasaxed in Bangaon on 2 April, 2017. This led people to protest and they successfully stopped them from cutting trees. Trees were again chopped in Habra and Ashoknagar and then the JRGBC was formed.
Several attempts were made by the committee to inform the the authorities concerned but no action was taken, the committee claimed.
(The writer is an intern with The Indian Express, Kolkata.)
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