Thousands of Trees Threatened by Rishikesh Road Project

A new four-lane Rishikesh bypass project is poised to impact the Shivalik Elephant Reserve, threatening the removal of approximately 3,995 trees. This extensive felling is required for the bypass, which will connect the Teenpani flyover to the Kharasrote bridge, traversing villages like Bhattowala and Dhalwala.

The project necessitates the diversion of around 46 hectares of reserved forest across Dehradun and Narendra Nagar forest divisions. Officials state the project awaits in-principle approval from the Union environment ministry, with work commencing only after necessary clearances are obtained.

The bypass aims to alleviate traffic congestion in Rishikesh, facilitating smoother movement from Dehradun and Haridwar and enhancing connectivity to the Char Dham pilgrimage routes. This is expected to reduce travel times and fuel consumption for pilgrims and tourists.

To mitigate the environmental impact, authorities have designated nearly 99 hectares of degraded forest land in Narendra Nagar for compensatory afforestation. Efforts are also being made to translocate mature trees with a girth exceeding 20 cm where feasible.

The affected forest areas include Thano Reserved Forest and several other sections within the reserve. The trees marked for felling encompass various species, including ecologically significant ones like teak and fruit-bearing varieties. Conservationists have raised concerns about potential habitat fragmentation and increased human-animal conflict.