<P> But the struggle was far from over, as the same company was awarded more ash trees, in the Phata forest, 80 km away from Gopeshwar . Here again, due to local opposition, starting on 20 June 1973, the contractors retreated after a stand - off that lasted a few days . Thereafter, the villagers of Phata and Tarsali formed a vigil group and watched over the trees until December, when they had another successful stand - off, when the activists reached the site in time . The lumbermen retreated leaving behind the five ash trees felled . </P> <P> The final flash point began a few months later, when the government announced an auction scheduled in January 1974, for 2,500 trees near Reni village, overlooking the Alaknanda River . Bhatt set out for the villages in the Reni area, and incited the villagers, who decided to protest against the actions of the government by hugging the trees . Over the next few weeks, rallies and meetings continued in the Reni area . </P> <P> On 25 March 1974, the day the lumbermen were to cut the trees, the men of the Reni village and DGSS workers were in Chamoli, diverted by state government and contractors to a fictional compensation payment site, while back home labourers arrived by the truckload to start logging operations . A local girl, on seeing them, rushed to inform Gaura Devi, the head of the village Mahila Mangal Dal, at Reni village (Laata was her ancestral home and Reni adopted home). Gaura Devi led 27 of the village women to the site and confronted the loggers . When all talking failed, and the loggers started to shout and abuse the women, threatening them with guns, the women resorted to hugging the trees to stop them from being felled . This went on into late hours . The women kept an all - night vigil guarding their trees from the cutters until a few of them relented and left the village . The next day, when the men and leaders returned, the news of the movement spread to the neighbouring Laata and others villages including Henwalghati, and more people joined in . Eventually, only after a four - day stand - off, the contractors left . </P> <P> The news soon reached the state capital, where then state Chief Minister, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, set up a committee to look into the matter, which eventually ruled in favour of the villagers . This became a turning point in the history of eco-development struggles in the region and around the world . </P>

She is one of the leaders of the chipko movement