Citizen-led Chipko-style protests at Saat Mod (Dehradun) forced Chief Minister Dhami to suspend NHAI's proposed felling of 4,369 trees for the ₹743 Cr Bhaniawala–Rishikesh highway project passing through the Shivalik elephant corridor.
Victims / Impact
4,369 Sal Trees Protected
Budget Impact
₹743 Cr highway project suspended
Updates Filed
18 updates
Verified Case Findings
- •Tree Felling Suspension: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered an immediate suspension of felling 4,369 trees for NHAI's 20 km ₹743 Cr Bhaniawala–Rishikesh NH-7 four/six-lane project.
- •Chipko Movement Revival: Local residents, 17-year-old students, and mothers with young children wrapped arms around centuries-old Sal trees at Saat Mod to block chainsaws.
- •Shivalik Elephant Corridor Threat: Project cuts through the sensitive Shivalik forest landscape connecting Rajaji National Park, threatening wildlife movement.
- •Severe Forest Loss History: Dehradun district accounts for 47% of all 46,000+ hectares of forest land transferred for development in Uttarakhand over the last 25 years.
- •Failed Transplantation Record: Previous 2022 Sahasradhara road transplantation resulted in near-total failure, turning the Raipur stadium site into a 'tree graveyard' of dry stumps.
Uncovered Fraud Networks & Schemes
Shivalik Elephant Corridor & Wildlife Accidental Kills
India Today (July 19, 2026)Existing two-lane road already claimed 29 wild animals in 5 years; Sambar deer killed on July 19 highlights how road widening accelerates roadkills.
Unregulated Tourism & Ecological Collapse
NDTV / Scientific Reports (July 2026)Mass tourism in UK rose from 1.1 Cr (2000) to 6+ Cr (2025/2026), far exceeding scientific daily carrying capacities for Kedarnath, Badrinath, and Yamunotri.
Failed Tree Transplantation Track Record
Down To Earth (July 17, 2026)Over 900 trees transplanted during 2022 Sahasradhara project became dry stumps, exposing FRI transplantation claims as ineffective PR.
Global Highway Engineering Alternatives
NDTV (July 20, 2026)Modern alternatives like elevated pillar highways (Japan/Europe) and green bridges preserve mountain slopes and roots, preventing 30% flood spikes.
Case Status
Verified Sources
4 CitedSustained citizen protests forced CM Pushkar Singh Dhami to suspend the felling of trees for the ₹743 Cr Rishikesh-Bhaniyawala highway project amid fears of rising Himalayan landslides and elephant corridor destruction.
Uttarakhand government temporarily halted tree cutting following public demonstrations, viral videos of women confronting loggers, and a Sambar deer roadkill in the Barkot forest range.
CM Dhami announced a pause on tree felling pending consensus, following a meeting between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and campaign delegates in Dehradun.
Hundreds of residents and activists converged on Saat Mod celebrating 'Kala Harela' to block NHAI loggers. RTI data revealed Dehradun accounts for 47% of all forest transfers in Uttarakhand.