Activist seeks action on axing of 20 trees

Times News Network
Ludhiana: A green activist who is part of an anti-pollution group has written to the state government for action on reports of 20 trees being axed on government land in Doraha. Police officials are waiting for a formal complaint to take action.
In her complaint to the chief minister and forest department, Samita Kaur of Warrior Moms Punjab wrote, “This is to bring to your notice that on 8th June, 2023 about 20 trees were chopped off on the land reserved for Advanced Training Institute (ATI) on Archian Road, Doraha, District Ludhiana. This land has been encroached by an impostor for unscrupulous purposes.”
She said that the incident had been brought to the notice of SDM and DSP, Payal and alleged that no prior permission had been taken to cut the trees. She added that according to official records, Punjab has less than 1.47% tree cover, which is less than the 4% of the tree cover of Rajasthan.
Pointing out that the NGT has banned tree felling for projects and seeks reports on trees planted in the last five years, she said that neither the crime nor the crime scene could be ignored.
Araichan village sarpanch Rinku Dhaliwal said that though the land was of the government and not the panchayat, they were opposed to the axing of trees. He added that a “numberdar” had seen the priest at a shrine getting the trees chopped and informed SDM Payal, who called the police. Thereafter, he was detained.
The sarpanch alleged that the priest, who had come to the area two to three years ago, had sold trees worth Rs 42,000. SDM Payal Jasleen Kaur Bhullar said that panchayat members called her, after which she sent an SHO to the spot.
She added that the land was acquired on lease by the Central government department and the official complaint had to come from them for police to take action.
DSP Payal Harsimrat Singh said that there has been no official complaint yet. “If we get a complaint, further legal action will be initiated,” he said.