Activists' yatra in Baran to stop tree felling for hydro project halted

Kota: Shahabad police in Baran district halted a Jan Samvad Yatra aimed at stopping the 1800MW hydro power project being constructed by a private company by creating awareness about environment conservation.

The five-day yatra, led by a few environmentalist activists from Delhi and the local area, started from Baran Wednesday and reached Shahabad Saturday evening but was not allowed to carry out any activities.

"We intended to interact with locals in Shahabad and discuss environmental conservation, emphasising that what is being presented as development through tree felling is, in fact, disastrous to humans, wildlife, and nature. However, the local police stopped us from continuing the event at Ahinsa circle," activist Robin Singh told TOI Sunday.

Singh was accompanied by software engineers Reena and Sonia from Delhi and some locals from Shahabad and Baran during the yatra.

The private company has already obtained permissions to cut over a lakh trees for the construction of the hydro power project in Shahabad area.

Shahabad SHO Prem Singh said the residents opposed the yatra, arguing that the power project would stimulate development and secure livelihoods for future generations.

Locals asserted that the targeted forest was essentially unproductive land for them, and the new project would bring prosperity.

Based on local sentiments, Robin Singh and fellow activists agreed to halt their event in the town, according to the SHO.

The state govt approved the project in Sept last year, but it has encountered protests from environmental groups. The Jodhpur bench of Rajasthan high court is already seized of the matter relating to the tree felling and is likely to hear the case in coming days.