Overview
- Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered the suspension of tree felling on the Saat Mod stretch until a consensus is reached, a move announced on Saturday after days of protests by locals, students and environmental groups.
- Work had continued under police protection and an FIR was filed on July 12 against unknown persons for allegedly trying to stop the cutting, which opponents say threatened between about 3,000 and 4,369 trees in a roughly 19–20 km road-widening plan.
- The National Highways Authority of India and state officials say the project has statutory and environmental clearances, follows High Court directions and includes wildlife measures such as an approximately 3.5 km elephant underpass and multiple culverts.
- Protesters pointed to a recent vehicle collision that killed a sambar deer to argue a wider road would raise wildlife mortality and loss of forest cover, while NHAI says it has deposited compensatory-afforestation funds and transferred 40 hectares for new forest development.
- The pause makes time for renewed consultations with residents, experts and elected representatives and could prompt a review of alignment or mitigation measures; observers should watch for formal environmental reviews, court directions and any change to the planned route.