Flood disaster renews calls to save 6,000 threatened deodar trees near Ganga’s source

By Bharat Dogra 

The recent devastation caused by flash floods and landslides in Uttarakhand has once again underlined the urgent need to protect thousands of deodar trees near the origin of the Ganga river. Dharali, a settlement in Bhatwari block of Uttarkashi district, was almost completely destroyed earlier this month when a sudden flood swept through, despite desperate attempts by residents of nearby villages to sound traditional warning whistles to save lives.

In the wake of this tragedy, experts and local residents have warned that the threats to Himalayan settlements are rising due to the twin pressures of climate change and indiscriminate construction. One of the most pressing concerns is the proposed felling of about 6,000 deodar trees for road-widening in the fragile Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone, close to the Gaumukh glacier.

Scientists have strongly opposed the plan. Renowned geologist Dr. Nalin Juyal has cautioned that cutting these trees would increase the risk of avalanches and floods, stressing that alternative solutions must be explored. Senior glaciologist D.P. Dobhal and climate scientist N. Bala have also emphasized the vital protective role forests play in minimizing disaster impacts in this region.

Environmental activists argue that the ecological value of these forests far outweighs the benefits of road expansion. The Raksha Sutra movement, inspired by the Chipko tradition, has proposed an alternative alignment for a new road that would improve connectivity for remote villages while sparing most of the threatened trees.

Local communities fear that if the large-scale tree felling goes ahead, the damage will be irreversible. Natural forests, they point out, cannot be recreated through plantation drives. When a big tree falls, smaller trees, shrubs, herbs, and biodiversity around it are also lost. Villagers and small shopkeepers are also anxious about the cascading impacts of poorly planned construction projects—dams, tunnels, and highways—that often lead to rubble being dumped into rivers, heightening flood risks.

Experts warn that the loss of trees in the upper catchment areas of the Ganga will have downstream effects too, altering water availability in the densely populated plains. This would directly affect farming, drinking water, and livelihoods far beyond Uttarkashi.

The Uttarkashi-Gangotri stretch is not only ecologically fragile but also holds immense spiritual significance as the origin of the Ganga. Local panchayats, women’s groups, and social organizations have repeatedly appealed to the authorities to adopt a cooperative approach that balances development needs with ecological safety.

Despite the heavy losses suffered in recent floods, critics say government agencies often fail to learn lessons, resuming work without adequate safeguards once the disaster subsides. Environmentalists warn that pushing ahead with indiscriminate tree cutting in such a sensitive zone would amount to “ecocide.”

There is still time, they argue, for the government to act wisely—by protecting forests, working with local communities, and ensuring that infrastructure development strengthens, rather than undermines, the region’s resilience.

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The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Man Over Machine, Protecting Earth for Children, and A Day in 2071