Punjab’s environmental governance is facing increased scrutiny due to a surge in reported cases of illegal tree felling and uprooting. This comes at a time when national campaigns like Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ are encouraging widespread tree plantation and environmental conservation efforts across India.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that environmentalists have raised concerns over numerous instances of mature and heritage trees being felled or uprooted, often without obtaining the mandatory approvals, to facilitate development projects. Ironically, the state is still in the process of enacting comprehensive legislation specifically for the protection of trees in urban areas outside designated forest boundaries, although a provision for environmental compensation for violators has been proposed.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has responded to these environmental concerns by imposing a statewide ban on the cutting or uprooting of any trees without explicit prior judicial permission. In a recent order, the court also issued an interim stay on the proposed felling of an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 mature trees slated for the Zirakpur-Panchkula bypass project, highlighting the judicial intervention in the matter.
The issue has gained significant attention in Barnala, where the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has initiated an inquiry into allegations concerning the illegal felling of 140 mature trees, including species such as neem, banyan, peepal, mulberry, teak, kikar, and jand. The alleged uprooting, carried out using heavy machinery near Phawara Chowk, has resulted in considerable environmental damage. Acting on a petition filed by environmental activist Gurpreet Singh Kahneke, the NGT has directed the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against officials of the Barnala Improvement Trust for the alleged uprooting of these trees.
Another case under examination involves the alleged illegal cutting of a neem tree, estimated to be nearly 100 years old, in Barnala’s PUDA Market. Despite official communications regarding the incident, no legal proceedings have reportedly been initiated.
Concerns over illegal tree felling are not confined to Barnala. Environmental activists have also reported the cutting of hundreds of trees along the Dhaula-Dhurkot road in anticipation of a proposed road construction project.
In Faridkot, a plan to cut 784 mature trees on the premises of the defunct Faridkot Cooperative Sugar Mill to develop an industrial park across a 137-acre site has sparked widespread protests. Residents, farmer unions, and various environmental groups have voiced strong opposition to this proposal.
Further compounding the issue, a century-old banyan tree and several fruit-bearing trees were allegedly illegally felled at the post office building in Nangal in February of this year. These trees, believed to be over 50 years old and located on land belonging to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), were cut in violation of the High Court’s existing ban, leading to significant outrage among local residents and activists.
In Malout town, situated in the Muktsar district, environmental and social organizations have recently voiced objections after some trees, planted in 2019, were allegedly uprooted to accommodate the construction of a volleyball court. These trees, nurtured by local residents over the years, had become an integral part of the area’s green cover.
Jaskirat Singh, associated with the Public Action Committee, an NGO actively involved in environmental advocacy, highlighted that the loss of trees is particularly concerning for Punjab. He pointed out that the state has one of the lowest forest cover percentages in the country.
In July of the previous year, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh, provided data in response to a query from AAP Rajya Sabha member and environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal. The minister stated that India’s total forest area amounted to 8,27,357.95 square kilometers, constituting 25.17 per cent of the country’s geographical area. In stark contrast, Punjab’s forest cover stands at a mere 6.59 per cent, reportedly the lowest among all Indian states.
Environmentalists are emphasizing that while the initiative to plant new saplings is commendable, the protection of existing old and mature trees is equally critical. With several cases currently under consideration by courts and tribunals, the forthcoming months are expected to be pivotal in determining Punjab’s approach to balancing developmental needs with environmental preservation.
The Chenab Times News Desk