Overview
- Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered a suspension of tree‑felling on Saturday while officials hold renewed consultations to build consensus with residents, experts and local representatives.
- The National Highways project would widen roughly 19–20 kilometres of the Bhaniyawala–Rishikesh road and has been reported to require removal of about 3,000 to 4,369 trees.
- NHAI and state officials say the scheme has statutory and environmental clearances, carries a reported cost of about Rs 743 crore and includes measures such as a roughly 3.5‑kilometre elephant underpass and multiple culverts for wildlife.
- Local environmental groups, students and residents staged sustained protests including a ‘Black Harela’ action, clashes led to an FIR on July 12 and tree‑felling had proceeded under police protection as activists highlighted a recent vehicle death of a sambar deer.
- The immediate outcome now depends on the fresh stakeholder talks, possible court or administrative rulings and political pressure from activists and lawmakers that could force an alignment change or delay before the next state election.