ESSAYDEVELOPMENT VERSUS ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
Blessing the Sapling, Felling the Forest
On July 16, Uttarakhand's Harela festival - which involves blessing family members with fresh saplings for health and prosperity - coincided with a "Black Harela" protest against the state's plan to fell around 4,000 mature trees for highway widening near Rishikesh, reviving debate over the true cost of celebrating green symbolism while diverting real forest land for infrastructure.
UPSC Relevance9/10
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