Allegations that UP Government has cut 1.12 lakh trees to make road for Kanwar Yatra
New Delhi – The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Survey of India to provide satellite images of the Kanwar Yatra route, focusing on the extensive tree felling along the Upper Ganga Canal. The deforestation is linked to the construction of a 111-km two-lane road from Muradnagar to Purkaji near the Uttarakhand border. The matter has been listed for further hearing on 25th July. Pilgrims will go to Haridwar in Uttarakhand to collect water from river Ganga during the month of Shravan, which starts from 22nd July.
The tribunal has directed the administrative officers to ‘take care that no illegal felling of trees takes place’. “For the construction of two-way 111 km long Kanwar road from Muradnagar (District Ghaziabad) to Purquazi (District Muzaffarnagar) near the Uttarakhand border, 1 lakh 12 thousand trees were ordered to be felled in the protected forest areas of three forest divisions of Ghaziabad, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar”, the news was published in some newspapers. The tribunal initiated the case based on this newspaper report.
| Editorial Perspective
How much truth is there in this allegation, will eventually come out. However, during such incidents, Hindu festivals and traditions are defamed as ‘environmentally harmful’, blaming Hindu Dharma. Now, to combat such anti-Hindu sentiments, the Hindu community must unite itself and raise their voices ! |