Stop Indiscriminate Tree Cutting on the 7 Mod
The Issue
Stop Indiscriminate Tree Cutting on the Rishikesh–Dehradun Road: Save Our Forests, Wildlife, and Future
Petition to: Government of Uttarakhand, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and the Uttarakhand Forest Department
The Rishikesh–Dehradun road widening project is important for improving connectivity and road safety. However, development should not come at the irreversible cost of thousands of mature trees and one of Uttarakhand's most ecologically significant forest corridors.
The forests around the Saat Mod (7 Mod) and Bhaniyawala stretch are home to elephants, leopards, countless birds, insects, and native plant species. These forests also provide clean air, regulate temperatures, prevent soil erosion, recharge groundwater, and protect local communities from the impacts of climate change.
Once these mature trees are cut, they cannot simply be replaced by planting saplings. It takes decades for a forest to recover.
We are not against development. We are asking for responsible, sustainable development.
We urge the authorities to:
- Immediately pause large-scale tree felling until all environmental concerns are transparently reviewed.
- Explore alternative road designs that minimize tree loss.
- Protect wildlife corridors, especially elephant movement routes.
- Conduct an independent environmental assessment and make the findings public.
- Consult ecologists, local communities, and environmental experts before further tree cutting.
- If tree removal is absolutely unavoidable, ensure scientific transplantation wherever possible and implement compensatory plantation with long-term monitoring and public accountability.
The forests of Rishikesh are part of our natural heritage. Once destroyed, they cannot be recreated within our lifetime.
We request the Government to balance infrastructure development with environmental protection so that future generations inherit both better roads and healthy forests.
Please sign this petition to protect the trees, wildlife, and ecological future of Rishikesh. Every signature matters.
248
The Issue
Stop Indiscriminate Tree Cutting on the Rishikesh–Dehradun Road: Save Our Forests, Wildlife, and Future
Petition to: Government of Uttarakhand, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and the Uttarakhand Forest Department
The Rishikesh–Dehradun road widening project is important for improving connectivity and road safety. However, development should not come at the irreversible cost of thousands of mature trees and one of Uttarakhand's most ecologically significant forest corridors.
The forests around the Saat Mod (7 Mod) and Bhaniyawala stretch are home to elephants, leopards, countless birds, insects, and native plant species. These forests also provide clean air, regulate temperatures, prevent soil erosion, recharge groundwater, and protect local communities from the impacts of climate change.
Once these mature trees are cut, they cannot simply be replaced by planting saplings. It takes decades for a forest to recover.
We are not against development. We are asking for responsible, sustainable development.
We urge the authorities to:
- Immediately pause large-scale tree felling until all environmental concerns are transparently reviewed.
- Explore alternative road designs that minimize tree loss.
- Protect wildlife corridors, especially elephant movement routes.
- Conduct an independent environmental assessment and make the findings public.
- Consult ecologists, local communities, and environmental experts before further tree cutting.
- If tree removal is absolutely unavoidable, ensure scientific transplantation wherever possible and implement compensatory plantation with long-term monitoring and public accountability.
The forests of Rishikesh are part of our natural heritage. Once destroyed, they cannot be recreated within our lifetime.
We request the Government to balance infrastructure development with environmental protection so that future generations inherit both better roads and healthy forests.
Please sign this petition to protect the trees, wildlife, and ecological future of Rishikesh. Every signature matters.
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Petition created on 14 July 2026