A proposed plan to cut down 3,300 trees in the Shivalik Elephant Reserve has been put on hold by the Uttarakhand High Court, throwing a wrench into a road-widening project between Dehradun and Rishikesh.
The court, responding to a public interest petition, demanded that both the Central and Uttarakhand governments submit environmental clearances and impact assessments before any further action is taken. The next hearing is scheduled for March 21, and until then, tree felling in the area is strictly prohibited.
Authorities have been directed to present documents related to forest conservation mandates, compensatory afforestation measures, and environmental impact assessments. Additionally, the petitioner must provide details on how the proposed project may disrupt elephant corridors.
The case, brought by environmental activist Reenu Paul, raises alarms about the rapid degradation of elephant habitats in Uttarakhand. The petition highlights concerns over infrastructure expansion, including railway station developments and highway widening, that threaten elephant movement and increase habitat loss.
Paul pointed to alarming statistics—170 elephant deaths in Uttarakhand over five years, including 24 fatalities in 2020-21 alone. The human toll is also significant, with 45 people killed in elephant encounters over the same period. The petition argues that unchecked development is worsening human-wildlife conflict and violating conservation commitments.
One of the most contentious points in the petition is the alleged de-notification of the Shivalik Elephant Reserve, which Paul claims was done illegally to facilitate commercial projects. Despite a previous High Court stay order, the move has led to further habitat destruction, according to the plea.
The petition calls for a comprehensive wildlife corridor conservation plan, urging authorities to ensure stricter monitoring and protection of critical habitats. With the court stepping in, the fate of the Shivalik Elephant Reserve—and the elephants that depend on it—hangs in the balance.