Felling of Jessore Road trees

In January, we welcomed the High Court decision to heed the protests and put a stop for six months to the felling of century-old trees on Jessore Road, many as old as a hundred or two hundred years, in order to widen the highway. Yet, from reports in this paper over the past two days, it seems that the widening of the highway is merely an excuse, and there are many who stand to profit if these trees are felled.

On March 23, during a visit by the parliamentary standing committee delegation regarding the issue, school students were made to form human chains in the area demanding that the road be widened by cutting the trees. Students confirmed that they were asked by their teachers to join the human chain. That those who had a stake in this went as far as to coerce school students to make that demand is simply unacceptable. On Monday, we reported on the widespread corruption over the years in felling these trees, using different excuses, and selling them for much less than their market price.

After the court order, officials had said they would be looking into how the road can be widened without felling the trees, something India has been able to do on their part of the road. Concerns regarding the risk of accidents due to vulnerable conditions of some old trees are important. This is not something to be decided ad hoc, but through proper evaluation from experts, in order to do the least possible damage. We call for a proper investigation, not only on how the development of the road can proceed without harming the trees, but also on the allegations of corruption over felling these trees over the years.