Black Harela: Locals Defend Shivalik Forests

In Dehradun, Uttarakhand, residents marked "Black Harela" on Wednesday by protesting a plan to cut down 4,369 trees in the Shivalik reserve. The trees are targeted for a road widening project along the Bhaniyawala-Rishikesh stretch. Approximately 100 protesters, clad in black, maintained a peaceful demonstration at the proposed felling site, urging the state government to halt the project. Environmentalists and citizens' groups joined the gathering, amplifying calls for the project's cancellation. Speakers highlighted that such deforestation contradicts the spirit of Harela, a festival traditionally celebrating nature and farming. Concerns were also voiced regarding the timing of the felling, which coincides with the peak breeding season for local bird species. The protest occurred just before the statewide Harela celebrations began. While the agriculture minister distributed fruit saplings, the forest department's official tree plantation drive was scheduled for the following day.