Nagpur: Launching a scathing attack on the rampant destruction of trees in Maharashtra, renowned actor and environmental activist Sayaji Shinde has declared that not a single tree in the Sahyadri mountain ranges will be allowed to be felled without resistance. Making his stand unequivocally clear, Shinde asserted that the agitation would continue until the State Government announces a concrete policy and takes decisive steps to protect the ecologically sensitive mountain ranges.
Addressing a press conference organised under the ‘Sahyadri Bachao’ environmental campaign, Shinde expressed deep anguish over the increasing destruction of forests in the name of development and questioned the government’s priorities. He demanded that the State Government place before the public a district-wise account of the number of trees planted and those cut down, arguing that citizens have every right to know the actual state of Maharashtra’s green cover.
“Human beings survive because of trees; trees do not depend on human beings for their survival,” he observed, underlining the indispensable role of forests in sustaining life. He maintained that development cannot become an excuse for indiscriminate tree felling and demanded necessary amendments to existing laws to give priority to tree conservation.
‘Does the Government want to turn Sahyadris into a desert?’
Expressing concern over the State’s environmental future, Shinde claimed that only 17 per cent of Maharashtra’s geographical area remains under forest cover. Questioning the government’s approach towards environmental protection, he asked whether the authorities wanted to turn the Sahyadris, regarded as Maharashtra’s pride, into a desert.
Using strong imagery to highlight the alarming situation, he remarked that while the State was preparing for Diwali celebrations, the Sahyadris were being subjected to destruction akin to Holika Dahan. He went a step further by alleging that the scale of tree felling amounted to a major forest scam rather than being merely an environmental issue.
“After our mother, it is the tree that sustains our life,” Shinde said, appealing to citizens to recognise the importance of trees and actively participate in protecting the environment.
He stressed that the battle to save the Sahyadris was not merely about preserving trees but about safeguarding the ecological balance, water resources and the future of coming generations.
Nagpur to sound the alarm with ‘Thali Bajao’ protest
Meanwhile, Nagpur is set to become a centre of the ‘Sahyadri Bachao’ campaign with a ‘Thali Bajao’ agitation scheduled for Monday, November 2. The protest, organised by Green Nagpur, will be held at Samvidhan Square (RBI Square) between 4.30 pm and 6.30 pm, with Shinde expected to participate.
The organisers have appealed to Nagpur residents to turn up with plates and spoons from their homes and collectively raise their voices against the destruction of the Sahyadri ranges.
Invoking the historical and emotional significance of the mountains, the campaigners pointed out that the Sahyadris provided the natural stronghold that supported Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in establishing Swarajya. They expressed anguish that the same mountain ranges are now facing the threat of indiscriminate tree felling.
Issuing a stark warning to the public, the organisers said, “If you remain silent today, tomorrow you may lose even water and the air you breathe.”
The campaign seeks to turn environmental protection into a mass public movement, urging citizens to move beyond expressions of concern and actively oppose the destruction of forests.
With Shinde taking an uncompromising position and Nagpur preparing to join the agitation, the ‘Sahyadri Bachao’ campaign has brought the issue of tree conservation and government accountability into sharp focus. The central demand is clear: the government must disclose the extent of tree loss, explain the reasons behind it and demonstrate through concrete action that environmental protection will not be sacrificed in the name of development.
