Jaipur: The indiscriminate felling of Khejri trees, the state tree of Rajasthan, in several villages, including those in Bikaner district, sparked outrage among environmentalists and locals.On Thursday, villagers and wildlife activists threatened to block the highway to Bikaner on June 14. Their protest followed reports that a contractor involved in a solar power project allegedly cut down dozens of old Khejri trees in the rainfed zone without official permission. They also claimed that several newly planted saplings by environmentalists were destroyed and buried under construction debris.Members of Khejri Bachao Paryavaran Bachao Sangharsh Samiti demanded an FIR against the contractor and that the company’s licence be revoked. “The govt declared Khejri as the state tree for its immense ecological value. Ironically, agencies working under govt departments are destroying the very trees they are supposed to protect,” said green activist and Samiti President, Mokhram Dharnia, who visited the site along with Jetharam Lakhusar.In a meeting held Wednesday night, the Sangharsh Samiti decided that residents from surrounding villages would gather at the company’s main gate on June 14 and block the highway in protest. Protesters also announced plans to seek a meeting with the chief minister to press for immediate action.In Chhatargarh of Bikaner district, villagers and environmentalists also demanded strict legal measures for protection of Khejri trees. They called for an increase in fine for illegal felling from the current of Rs 100 per tree to Rs 1 lakh. They also demanded that landowners who allow large-scale deforestation be stripped of their land rights.
