Environmentalists, Bishnoi vigilantes hold Mahspadav in Bikaner to curb Khejri trees felling

A demonstration and day-long encampment in Bikaner organised by environmentalists, traders organisations, and people in protest against massive cutting of Khejri (Prosopis cineraria), the state tree of Rajasthan, evoked good response on Monday.

Shops and business establishments in most of the markets remained closed since this morning in the desert town of western Rajasthan on the call of “Mahapadav” from “The Khejri Bachao; Paryavaran Bachao” campaign. People and the environment dedicated Bishnoi vigilants from different districts thronged in at the Polytechnic College ground from where they proceeded to District Collectorate to hold mammoth demonstration and dharna there.

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An organisation spokesman said that Khejri trees were being cut in large numbers in many districts for solar energy plant installation or various other pretexts. Khejri, which is called the wonder tree of the Thar desert, meant much more than a vegetation (tree) to us, the spokesman. This is the de-facto life-line not only of the human beings in the desert but the entire flora and fauna as it provides food, shelter, consumable fruits and leaves.

We have been staging dharna at the district collectorate and Karnisar Bhatiyan for the past one month. Today’s token Mahapadhav, held on call from Mahapanchayat in Mukam dham, was an expression of our intent to intensify the stir if our demands were not conceded to.

The core demand is enactment of stringent law for effective curb and prevention of the tree chopping.

Notably, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Joga Ram Patel has already announced the introduction of a Bill in the current session of Rajasthan assembly for enactment of the desired law.