New Delhi, Dec. 8 -- Villagers, environmental activists, political leaders tied raksha sutras - a thread that symbolises protection - to old-growth Deodar trees near Harsil in the upper reaches of Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) to save them from the axe. These trees are likely to be cleared for the expansion of the 20.6-km Char Dham route between Bhaironghati to Jhala in Uttar Kashi district, people familiar with the matter said. Local residents sang Garhwali songs about saving the mountains and forests, before tying rakhis to the trees and holding a Deodar pooja for the trees likely to be cut. HT reported on Friday that around 6,000 Deodar trees have been marked on the Char Dham stretch for felling after the Uttarakhand government gave its nod for the route's widening, people aware of the details said. Around 6,000 deodar trees have been marked on the stretch for felling, according to local residents. According to a letter by head of forest forces, Uttarakhand, the stretch will involve the loss of 41.92 hectares of forest area, which includes several Deodar trees. In a letter dated November 12 to the nodal officer, Uttarakhand, forest land, the HOFF (Uttarakhand head of forest forces) said that the road widening is "strategically important for national security." The project, hence, has been considered under section 1A, sub-section (2)(c) of the Forest (Conservation and Augmentation) Act, 1980 (as amended in 2023) -- which exempts strategic linear projects, situated within a distance of 100km along international borders or Line of Control or Line of Actual Control, from forest clearance, the letter said. "If a project is declared strategic by the ministry of defence or the ministry of home, the state has the authority to approve diversion of land. Since this stretch is in the Bhagirathi ESZ, there is also a monitoring committee constituted by the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC). They have also considered this project and it has received approval following these deliberations," said a senior official, who was involved in the clearance process, on condition of anonymity. Environment groups opposing the proposed road widening have announced a march to protest against the state-level clearance. Local groups have organised a yatra on Saturday from Delhi and Rishikesh up to Uttarkashi, Bhaironghati and Harsil, where public gatherings will be held to discuss their concerns over the project....