As activists try to stop felling of trees in Khar by hugging them, city’s ‘Dr Green’ Ashok Kothari recounts 1979 protest
Dr Ashok Kothari
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Today is tug of war time between activists and the BMC, with the former trying to stop the felling of trees in Khar by hugging them, a la the Chipko movement.
Thirty-four trees are to be razed outside the Khar Gymkhana for a road-widening project.
Santacruz-based Dr Ashok Kothari, president, National Society for the Friends of Trees, also known as ‘Dr Green’ says that the city’s ‘Chipko’ movements are not an attention-grabbing technique, but have been part of the city’s environmental activism fabric, even though they are much more visible now.
“In 1979, we were seven to eight activists protesting felling of trees at Linking Road, Bandra West. Some had hugged the trees too, like the Chipko movement.
There were night vigils by activists to stop tree felling. It was a sterling movement.
“Activists were rounded up and taken to the Bandra police lock up. We saved several trees, but some time later the court gave an order for widening the road and the trees were cut.” It has been decades since the order, but Kothari is determined to continue his activism.
Speaking about the power of activism, Kothari says, “Activism may eventually wilt in front of money power, but it does raise awareness about the benefit of trees and intangible though it may seem, it is invaluable.”
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