Community effort helps save Rock Garden forest

In April this year 2025, a group of environmentalists, including Samita Kaur, Paveela Bali, and Amandeep Singh and other concerned citizens, raised objections to the diversion of forest land near Chandigarh’s iconic Rock Garden. These concerns were forwarded to the Environment Ministry by Member of Parliament, Chandigarh, Manish Tewari.

In June, 2025, the Union Minister for Environment, Bhupender Yadav, officially responded. He stated that two proposals for compensatory afforestation have been approved under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. He also mentioned that afforestation will take place on degraded forest land, and conditions have been laid down to ensure this is properly executed under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) 2023 Rules.

The agency that used the forest land has to pay a fee – and that money will go towards restoring nearby forest areas and supporting local biodiversity.

It’s important to note that the area next to the Rock Garden was initially being misused as a parking lot for advocates. Now, road construction has begun there – which was actually the purpose for which clearances were initially sought.

Your voice truly made a difference!