17 trees marked for New Cantt project, activists flag higher count

Dehradun: Environmental activists in Dehradun have raised concerns over the New Cantt road-widening project, alleging that the 17 trees identified for felling by the Public Works Department (PWD) may be an underestimate. They warned that more trees could be at risk once the govt completes land acquisition for the stretch. Videos from the site have been widely circulated by eco-activists and social media influencers, mobilising public opposition.Himanshu Arora of Citizens for Green Doon visited the site on Sunday and questioned the PWD's move. "In 2024, after widespread public protests, the chief minister assured that no trees would be felled. Has the PWD forgotten that assurance, or is it ignoring it? Officials are talking about only 17 trees, but this is just part of the stretch. The widening will extend up to Vijay Colony bridge, where more trees may eventually be cut," he said.Arora pointed to what he described as similar "official versus unofficial" discrepancies in past projects, including the foot over bridge on Rajpur Road near Rashtrapati Ashiana. He also criticised the ongoing drain construction along the route. "Excavation has already reached the roots of several trees. Once the area is concretised, weakened trees could later be declared hazardous and removed. This pattern has played out before in Dehradun," he said in a video posted online.PWD officials maintained that the project aligns with directions issued by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and was redesigned to minimise ecological impact after large-scale protests in June 2024 over the proposed felling of around 250 trees. Following the backlash, Dhami had assured that no trees would be cut and the project was put on hold. With the issuance of a land acquisition notice, work has now resumed and is expected to be completed by early 2027.