Felling of 3,300 trees for road widening project in Shivalik reserve stayed by Uttarakhand HC

“Look into the coordinates and if there is a road passing through the corridor, then, Mr counsel for the government, advise them to construct a flyover because it cannot be blocked,” the bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Ashish Naithani observed.

Negi said there is a notified Shivalik Elephant Reserve, and within this is the Bhaniyawala-Rishikesh stretch, where the government has proposed cutting 3,300 trees. “Before this, the government wanted to expand the Dehradun airport in the…reserve, but this court had intervened and stayed the expansion because the government of India had supported the petitioner and stated in its affidavit that it is a critical elephant habitat,” Negi said.

The road widening project will impact the eighth, ninth and tenth corridors in the reserve, he said, adding that the project falls in three forest ranges — Motichur, Badkot and Rishikesh. “Parts of Badkot and Rishikesh are notified elephant corridors.”

When the Chief Justice asked at what stage the project was, the petitioner responded that the state had marked trees to be felled. He directed that no trees should be cut till the next hearing.

The court asked the state to submit the clearances mandated under the Forest Conservation Act; the compensatory afforestation scheme, if any drawn up; the necessary compensatory afforestation fund, if it has been set apart; and the environment impact and assessment report on the next hearing on March 21.