The campaign began on October 3 after Ranchi resident and product designer Shailesh Krishna noticed trees along the proposed road alignment marked with paint. He proposed using art to represent the ecological and social value of the trees, and his appeal on social media brought residents to the initiative the following day. Organisers say between 200 and 300 trees have since been painted as part of the campaign.
The movement has expanded beyond tree painting, with residents organising community gatherings, or baithaks, to highlight the HEC grounds as a shared public space. Participants have particularly emphasised its importance for children and drawn inspiration from Mumbai’s Save Aarey movement, which combined public mobilisation, cultural activities and legal action over concerns about tree loss.
Krishna said 1,978 trees had been marked along the proposed road alignment. He also claimed that the wider impact could extend to more than 7,000 trees, including saplings and younger plantations in nearby areas. These figures were provided by campaign organisers and have not been independently verified in the supplied report.
The report does not provide details about the project’s executing agency, construction schedule, land requirement or statutory approval status. Those records will be important in assessing the project’s potential impact and the authorities’ obligations before any tree felling takes place. Hamari Ranchi has submitted representations to government agencies and is considering legal action, while members are seeking project documents and preparing their legal plans. The campaign’s next steps will depend on official responses and access to government records.