Uttarakhand CM Suspends Felling of 3,000 Trees Amid 'Chipko Andolan' Revival
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Species, protected areas & wetlands· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
Uttarakhand CM suspended the felling of 3,000 trees for the Rishikesh-Bhaniyawala project following a 'Chipko Andolan' revival by locals and environmentalists.
Background
The project is a four-lane road costing Rs 743 crore managed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The suspension occurred to address concerns regarding ecological damage to the Shivalik forests.
Facts for Prelims
- PlaceShivalik Range: A range of hills in the outer Himalayas, located in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab.
- BodyNHAI: National Highways Authority of India, an autonomous agency under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
- FactProject Cost: Rs 743 crore for the Rishikesh-Bhaniyawala four-lane project.
- EnvironmentChipko Andolan: A forest conservation movement in the 1970s where villagers hugged trees to prevent felling.
For Mains
Q. Discuss the conflict between infrastructure development and ecological conservation in the Himalayan region. How can sustainable development be achieved in ecologically sensitive zones?
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Ecological vulnerability: Risk of landslides and flash floods in the Shivalik range due to deforestation.
- Developmental trade-off: Balancing the economic necessity of tourism infrastructure against long-term environmental degradation.
- Community-led conservation: The role of grassroots movements like Chipko in influencing state-level environmental policy.
Keywords: Ecologically Sensitive Zones · Sustainable Development · Environmental Impact Assessment · Community Participation · Himalayan Ecology
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.