Protection of approximately 700 mature trees proposed to be felled for widening of the Dakra–Kimadi–Mussoorie Road and preservation of the ecological integrity of the Mussoorie hill region.

Ashish Garg
Environmental Activist

To
1. State of Uttarakhand
2. Public Works Department, Uttarakhand
3. Forest Department, Uttarakhand

The present online PIL is being filed in the larger public interest for protection of approximately 700 mature trees proposed to be felled for widening of the Dakra–Kimadi–Mussoorie road.

Background : 
Mussoorie is already facing severe environmental stress due to increasing tourist inflow, traffic congestion, water scarcity, waste generation and loss of green cover.  Various expert committees and the National Green Tribunal have recommended assessment and regulation of Mussoorie's carrying capacity before further expansion of tourism infrastructure. The NGT-appointed committee recommended regulating tourist numbers and adopting measures linked to carrying capacity. Further, the State has already introduced mandatory tourist registration in Mussoorie to address overcrowding concerns.

Widening roads to accommodate unlimited growth in tourist vehicles without first determining the carrying capacity of Mussoorie is arbitrary and contrary to the principles of sustainable development and inter-generational equity. 

Also , mature roadside trees provide critical ecosystem services including:

a. Carbon sequestration.
b. Temperature moderation and heat mitigation.
c. Groundwater recharge.
d. Soil stabilization and landslide risk reduction.
e. Habitat for birds and wildlife.

At the same time, experience from recent road-widening projects such as at Sahastradhara road, GMS road, EC Road, Saharanpur road etc in Dehradun demonstrates that tree loss has long-term ecological consequences which cannot be compensated merely through plantation drives.

Further , It is also a violation of Article 21 of the Constitution guaranteeing the right of a healthy environment and Public Trust Doctrine. There is also a failure to assess cumulative environmental impacts and at the same time non-consideration of less destructive alternatives.

In order to suggest viable alternative, it is requested to consider following Mussoorie Sustainable Tourism Framework instead of felling 700 trees for additional road capacity in phase manner : 

Phase 1: Carrying Capacity Assessment:

Determine maximum sustainable limits for:

* Daily tourists
*Daily vehicles
*Water availability
*Parking capacity
*Waste management capacity
*Sewage treatment capacity

Phase 2: Permit System

*Online advance registration.
*Daily tourist cap.
*Daily vehicle cap.
*Dynamic limits during weekends and holidays.

Phase 3: Park-and-Ride Model

*Large parking hubs at Dehradun, Dakra or Kimadi.
*Electric shuttle buses to Mussoorie.
*Restrict private vehicles beyond a threshold.

Phase 4: Congestion Management

*Peak-season environmental fee.
*Differential pricing for weekends.
*Priority access for local residents and essential services.

Phase 5: Protection of Existing Trees: 

*Tree felling only after demonstrating, No feasible alternative alignment.
*No traffic-management solution exists.
*No selective widening option exists.
*No elevated or retaining-wall solution exists.

Accordingly , I would earnestly request to 

1. Differ felling of the proposed 700 trees until following is done
2. Conduct and publish a comprehensive carrying-capacity assessment of Mussoorie.
3. Prepare an Integrated Mobility Plan for Mussoorie before undertaking further road widening.
4. Implementation of a permit-based tourist and vehicle management system during peak seasons.
5. Fixation of daily limits on tourist vehicles entering Mussoorie based on carrying-capacity assessment.
6. Establishment of peripheral parking hubs in Dehradun and shuttle-based public transport to Mussoorie.
7. Compulsory online pre-registration of tourists and real-time monitoring of tourist inflow.
8. Adoption of congestion pricing/environmental user fees during peak periods.
9. Direct the PWD to redesign the road project to avoid tree felling through engineering alternatives including selective widening, passing bays, one-way traffic management during peak periods, retaining structures, elevated sections and geometric improvements at bottlenecks.
10. Form an independent expert committee comprising ecologists, transport planners, hydrologists and geologists to evaluate alternatives.
    
    Hence it is a humble appeal to first determine the scientifically assessed carrying capacity of Mussoorie and formulate a Sustainable tourism management plan including tourist caps, vehicle caps, permit-based entry, peripheral parking, public transport augmentation and congestion-management measures before undertaking any project involving the felling of approximately 700 mature trees on the Dakra–Kimadi–Mussoorie corridor."