Environment Cannot Be Sacrificed for Development, Says Gehlot
Jaipur: Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said it was “extremely unfortunate” that khejri trees were being cut down in the name of development and urged the state government to hold talks with protesters agitating on the issue.
“We cannot accept a development model that comes at the expense of the environment and tarnishes the future of future generations,” Gehlot said.
Referring to the ongoing ‘Khejri Bachao Andolan’ protest in Bikaner, Gehlot said that the protest, which entered its third day on Wednesday, has now taken the form of a mass movement.
Environmentalists and members of the Bishnoi community are holding an indefinite hunger strike near Bishnoi Dharamshala, demanding a tree protection bill and a complete ban on felling of khejri trees in the ongoing Assembly session.
Gehlot said khejri, the symbol of identity and faith for the Bishnoi community of Rajasthan and the people of the state, should be protected.
“It is extremely unfortunate that thousands of khejri trees have been brutally cut down in the name of development,” he said.
Recalling the sacrifice of Amrita Devi Bishnoi and 363 other people, Gehlot stated that the saints and environmentalists are on hunger strike once again to protect their heritage, and emphasized that it is time for all stakeholders to take environmental problems seriously.
The former chief minister appealed to the state government to immediately engage in dialogue with the agitators and take a positive decision on their demand for the Tree Protection Act.
