Ranchi: Beneath the sprawling tree canopy of HEC, ‘baithaks’ (community gatherings)are turning into a movement as citizens rally against a proposed 10-lane road project that they fear could alter one of the city’s last major green corridors.Through music jams, art workshops, yoga sessions, reading circles and activities for children, the collective Hamari Ranchi is bringing residents together on the grounds they are trying to protect. Drawing inspiration from Mumbai’s ‘Save Aarey’ movement, the campaign is combining legal action, public mobilisation and creative outreach to oppose tree felling.What began earlier this month with a few painted trees and an appeal on social media has quickly grown into a citizen-led environmental campaign. Instead of relying on demonstrations and slogans, volunteers are using art, culture and community participation to highlight the ecological and social value of the HEC grounds.The campaign began on Oct 3, when Ranchi resident and product designer Shailesh Krishna noticed trees along the proposed road alignment marked with paint. Concerned by reports that the widening project could lead to large-scale tree felling, he suggested encouraging people to paint the trees and use art to narrate their relationship with nature.“If a paint mark could signify the death of a tree, why not create art that signifies its life and our connection with it?” Krishna said.His social media appeal received an immediate response, with residents joining the initiative the following day. “Nearly 200-300 trees have since been painted,” he said.The movement gained further momentum after Ranchi-born mental health professional Prerna joined the initiative. Since then, the campaign has expanded beyond tree painting to include community gatherings aimed at reclaiming public spaces and underlining their importance, particularly for children.According to Krishna, around 1,978 trees have been marked along the proposed road alignment. However, he claimed the actual impact could extend to more than 7,000 trees, including saplings and younger plantations in nearby areas.Hamari Ranchi has submitted representations to govt agencies and is exploring legal options. “We are also considering taking the legal route. We are working on our plans and arranging the required project documents,” Prerna said.
