PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has urged the State Government to show everyone all legal permissions related to the planned road widening project in the Rajaji National Park landscape. Addressing the media on Saturday, AAP State youth president Himanshu Pundir said that they support road and infrastructure development but stressed that all projects must follow environmental laws and constitutional provisions.
Pundir said that under the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023, the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 and other relevant laws, forest land can be used for non-forest purposes only after completing the required legal procedures. He said that projects in forest areas require forest clearance, compliance with environmental norms and where necessary, approval from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) and other authorities. Pundir questioned whether all mandatory approvals for the proposed project had been obtained. He demanded that the government place all related documents in the public domain to ensure transparency.
AAP’s Dehradun Mahanagar president Deepti Rawat said that Supreme Court rulings, including the TN Godavarman case, have emphasised strict compliance with legal procedures for projects in protected forests and national parks. She said that the government should clarify whether all approvals have been secured and environmental conditions are being followed. AAP also highlighted the ecological importance of the Sat Mod stretch on the Dehradun-Rishikesh highway and the Shivalik forests, which serve as a wildlife passage for elephants, tigers and other animals. Pundir said that any road project in the area should include scientific environmental assessment, wildlife-friendly structures and compensatory afforestation.
