Shimla, July 30 -- The recent Supreme Court stay on the felling of apple trees on forest lands has offered only a temporary reprieve to orchardists in Himachal Pradesh, but left the core issue of farmer evictions unresolved., says an environmental advocacy group Himdhara Collective, raising serious concerns over the state's handling of the matter.
The non-governmental organisation warned that relying solely on ecological arguments in the Special Leave Petition (SLP) may prove counterproductive and undermine the rights of small and marginal farmers.
On July 28, the Supreme Court issued a temporary stay on the Himachal Pradesh High Court's order to fell apple trees planted on forest lands classified as "encroachments."
The petitioners con...