Trees being ignored in city

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 22

As the world celebrates the International Day for Biological Diversity, the city has a reason to worry as its vegetation is being ignored due to the apathetic approach of not only the government, but also residents. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution in 1992 to observe the International Day for Biological Diversity to increase understanding and awareness on the issue.

The holy city has a variety of trees in Ram Bagh, developed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and roads, which were named after the trees due to diverse trees planted during the British era. The unplanned development for decades has ruined the biodiversity of the city.

For decades, large trees are being uprooted by encroachers in the Company Garden. Still, there are a few trees which stand tall, but crying for attention.

Dilbir Foundation had conducted a campaign to identify and name species of ancient trees in Ram Bagh two years ago and found 65 diverse varities of trees.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has ruined Guru Ka Bagh, said Harleen Singh, a visitor to the Golden Temple. The native trees have been uprooted over the years. Moreover, the Parikarama of the Golden Temple had a large number of native trees but now only a few Beri trees are left. “There are several plants, whose names have been mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikh history. Preservation of tree diversity is also important to understand history,” said Santokh Singh, a devotee.

“Amritsar has traditionally been a city of gardens. It’s avenues and roads are named after fruits and eco connotations. Yet havoc in the name of development has been wrought on this natural wealth. Naked concrete has replaced banyans, peepuls, jamuns and mango trees,” says Puneet, a local resident.

Dr Balwinder Singh Lakhewali, renowned landscapist, says, “There are around 52 species of traditional trees in Punjab. Of these, nearly 20 species are endangered. People prefer planting foreign trees, such as palms and other coastal trees, these days. But our native trees, which have a medicinal value, are habitat for diverse bird species. Besides, these have useful wood and beautiful flowers, but are being ignored.”