BHOPAL: Group of environmentalists that has come together to save Buxwaha forest were denied permission to hold protest at Chhatarpur district headquarter. Nevertheless, they have decided to go ahead with their peaceful protest from Saturday.
The convener of the Save Buxwaha Forest campaign, Sharat Kumre said that the protest will be peaceful. ìWe had mentioned in the permission seeking letter that the protest will be held strictly following the Covid protocol,î said Kumre.
However, nature lovers and environmentalists will gather at Chhatarpur district headquarter from Saturday and launch ëHarit Satyagrahí there till June 30. Various activities like blood donation, plantation, fasting and sanitation drive will be held besides establishing dialogue with various sections of the society.
ìElection rallies, gatherings by political parties etc were given permission amidst raging pandemic and now the district administration have denied permission for a good cause. This is an effort to scuttle the voice and sentiments of common people,î added Kumre.
Satyagrah will be held†on the first day in Gandhi Ashram for denying permission for the protest, said environmentalist Amit Bhatnagar.
Dozens of NGOs and environmentalists have come together after the news that more than two lakh trees will be axed for the diamond mining project in Buxwaha in Chhatarpur district.
These NGOs and individuals launched a massive campaign on the occasion of World Environment Day on June 6. Since there have been several coordinated online campaigns that have made noise. Some groups had also replicated the Chipko movement in the forests of Buxwaha then.
State government has given a contract for diamond mining to Essel Mining and Industries Limited owned by Aditya Birla and group. Mining activities will be conducted on 384 hectares of forest land in Buxwaha forests.
