After Delhi, Gurgaon launches ‘Chipko’ to stop tree-felling

GURUGRAM: People from Gurugram and Delhi came together on Saturday to launch the ‘Chipko’ movement at Atul Kataria Chowk.
Holding placards, they shouted slogans such as “No tree felling in Gurugram”, “If you cut a tree, you cut your life” and “You can’t live without trees”. They hugged trees and children performed skits to raise awareness about the importance of trees in the Millennium City.

The protest was carried out after the public works department (PWD) sent a proposal to the ministry of environment, forest & climate change (MoEF & CC) through the state forest department, seeking permission to cut trees to build an underpass and a flyover at Atul Kataria Chowk. The project requires clearing of green belts.

Anindita, a resident of Gurugram’s Sector 109 who joined the protest, said, “I am overwhelmed with the response at the protest. While a few people came from Delhi, many from Gurugram came out. Surprisingly, a group of seven people from the Bishnoi community in Rajathan also joined us. We will take this movement further and not let authorities fell a single tree.”

Many said the underpass and flyover were not required. “It is an eight-lane road. If encroachments are removed, the road would not need any underpasses or flyovers,” said Anil Sood from Chetna Group, a Delhi-based NGO. He came all the way from Vasant Kunj to Atul Kataria Chowk to join the protest.

A lot of children also turned up at the protest. “These are old and fully-grown trees. We have already lost so many trees along the highway for construction of underpasses. I can’t imagine a ‘tree-less’ sight of the city. We are performing a skit, aiming to awaken authorities about the importance of tree cover,” said Ruby, a student of Bagiya School, which is run by an NGO.

While residents claimed that over 1,700 trees would have to be cut for the project, the forest department officials said that PWD had sought permission to cut at least 700 trees in the notified forest area. “It is important to note that the permission to cut trees hasn’t been given yet. The MoEF & CC decision is pending. There is no need to worry as the forest department sanctions felling only after a proper analysis of the situation. Also, the department will carry out compensatory afforestation,” said a forest official, requesting anonymity.

The work at the site, however, has started. “The authorities have already put up barricades. We also saw a few earth-movers. We are sure that they will get permission to cut the trees within a few days and they will carry out the work overnight,” said a protester.

The protest comes after residents of the capital city launched a ‘Chipko’ movement in south Delhi over the cutting of 17,000 trees to clear way for accommodations for central government employees. In the 1970s, the Chipko movement was rolled out by people in Uttarakhand as they hugged trees to prevent them from being cut.