98 trees felled for ice skating rink in Dharamsala
As many as 98 trees have been felled in the Lower Sakoh area of Dharamsala to pave the way for an ice and roller skating rink being developed by the Tourism Department. While officials claim the trees were cut with due permission from the Forest Department, the move has sparked sharp criticism from local residents and environmental activists.
Sanjeev Chaudhary, a resident of Sakoh, expressed dismay over the development. “Some of these trees were at least 50 years old. We’ve grown old seeing these majestic trees in our village, which is now part of Dharamsala city. It was heartbreaking to see them cut down,” he said.
Animal rights activist Dheeraj Mahajan questioned the timing of the felling, pointing out that the state has not yet received funds from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the project. “They cut the trees just in anticipation of funding. The trees could have been preserved with better planning. What if the project is shelved? The loss is irreversible,” he said.
District Tourism Officer (DTO) Vinay Dhiman confirmed that 98 trees, including several smaller ones, were cut after receiving clearance from the Forest Department. “The project has been designed to minimise environmental impact. An ice and roller skating rink will be built in Sakoh to attract more tourists,” he said.
