On the occasion of the World Environment Day, local activists have expressed concern at the planned cutting of thousands of green Deodar trees marked for the axe to facilitate construction of all weather road in Uttarkashi district.
Environmentalist Suresh Bhai states that under Namami Gange, there is a target of planting forests on 30,000 hectare land. On the other hand, thousands of green Deodar trees are to be cut down along the Ganga river between Gangotri and Harshil for the all-weather road. “In such a situation, the destruction of this forest property that pits the mountains on the glazes of the glaciers is not a good sign for the future. During 1994-98, thousands of green Deodar pods were cut down in this area.
At that time, the women of Harshil, Mukhba village, had protested against this by tying a sacred thread on the trees to protect them. Further, this area has not yet fully emerged from the fierce fire that took place last year. In spite of this, the preparations are going on to cut down the flora. After declaring Ganga the national river in 2008, the government has also declared the area from Gangotri to Uttarkashi an eco-sensitive zone to increase the green area and agriculture sector. Forests are an important part of keeping the Ganga pure and uninterrupted. Even after this, the cutting down of trees has not been stopped,” he said.
He further states, “Due to the emergence of rare forest species along the Ganga like Rai, Kail, Murenda, Deodar, Kharsu, Maurer Nair, Thuner, Cinnamon, Bose, Burans and others, the cone and broad leafed trees attract tourists. The water-growing biodiversity that flows through them and the water flowing through it, contributes significantly to the quality of the Ganga water. Even if the glaciers are damaged, these species also mitigate the adverse effects. There are hundreds of glaciers around Gangotri, including Gaumukh, where greenery is needed. These Deodar trees have been marked for the cut though they are neither aged nor in any way dry to merit the axe.”
To save the forest area which is spread over 30 kilometres, it is suggested that a seven metre wide road be constructed instead of 15 metres wide road. This will be wide enough to enable two broad buses to pass through at the same time while the green guard of the Ganga will also be saved, added Suresh Bhai.