Rajasthan prohibits felling of khejri trees after 11-day protests

The Bharatiya Janata Party government in Rajasthan has enforced a ban on the felling of khejri trees following an 11-day-long agitation by saints and Bishnoi community members in Bikaner. A Bill for tree protection will also be introduced during the ongoing budget session of the State Assembly.

Khejri, taxonomically classified as Prosopis cineraria, is the official State tree of Rajasthan, designated in view of its immense value to the desert ecosystem and rural economy. The agitation had started after the alleged widespread felling of khejri for solar power projects coming up in western parts of the State.

The indefinite sit-in protest outside the Bishnoi Dharamshala in Bikaner was called off after the State government issued a circular to halt the felling of khejri. The agitation received support from across the political spectrum, with former Chief Ministers Ashok Gehlot and Vasundhara Raje as well as several Congress and BJP leaders joining the demand.

Minister of State K.K. Bishnoi had earlier attempted to get the agitation withdrawn by assuring a ban limited to Bikaner and Jodhpur divisions. As the protesters rejected the partial measure, a delegation led by Mr. Bishnoi visited the agitation site and handed over an official order of the Revenue Department addressed to all District Collectors.

The order explicitly stated that the felling of khejri trees would remain prohibited throughout the State until a new law comes into force to protect them. Swami Sachchidanand, who led the agitation, announced the protest’s suspension with a warning that the movement would resume if the law failed to reflect public sentiment.

Replying to the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma earlier stated in the Assembly that a law would be enacted to protect the khejri tree. He said a Bill to this effect would be brought in the House once the process for identifying finer aspects of the proposed legislation was completed. (EOM)