Khejri protest gains momentum in Bikaner, women lead kalash yatra

Jaipur: The khejri conservation movement in Bikaner continued to gather momentum, with growing public participation, particularly from women, to protect Rajasthan's state tree. On the 8th day of the protest, a massive kalash yatra was taken out, drawing the participation of more than 10,000 women.The agitation intensified following the failure of talks between a delegation of saints and the Chief Minister in Jaipur. After the unsuccessful discussions, the delegation reached Bikaner on Monday and announced that the future course of the movement would be decided shortly.
Meanwhile, the relay hunger strike entered another day, with around 150 protesters continuing their fast at the protest site, demanding strict action against the cutting of Khejri trees across the region.Mokhram Dharniya, a senior member of the Sangharsh Bachao Samiti, said there was an urgent need for a strong and unified law to protect trees across the state.He outlined several demands, including an immediate survey and legal protection of all Khejri trees located within solar company premises, and annual land records to document khejri trees across Rajasthan. The protesters also sought that illegal cutting of the state tree be treated as loss of govt property."Our key demand is a provision of at least three years' imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2 lakh for tree felling," said Dharniya. The movement further called for mandatory environmental impact assessments by forest officials before land was allotted to solar companies.The activists also demanded that 20% of land acquired by solar firms be reserved for tree conservation, and that the protection of wildlife dependent on trees, including nests, shelters, chicks and eggs, be legally ensured.They urged that all trees and wildlife found on revenue land, forest land, grazing grounds, orans and other govt land be placed under the direct responsibility of the forest department, with a single, uniform protection law replacing the existing fragmented regulations. "At present , forest and revenue cannot take action against the offenders if khejri is cut on revenue land. We want there should be a law to stop this," he said.