Kurukshetra: Spare the trees, NGO requests political parties
Kurukshetra, February 6
As political activities have intensified and politicians are putting up banners and hoardings to woo people, a local NGO has requested them to spare the trees in Kurukshetra.
Letters sent, discussions held
}As the elections are approaching, a large number of hoardings are being put up again. So, we decided to request political leaders to ask their party workers and volunteers to at least spare the trees. We have sent letters to leaders of political parties. We also had a discussion with a couple of politicians on this issueRs — Naresh Bhardwaj, Environmentalist
The NGO has sent letters to Kurukshetra BJP MP and party’s state chief Nayab Singh Saini, Thanesar MLA Subhash Sudha, Congress leader Ashok Arora, INLD district chief Boota Singh and JJP district chief Kuldeep Jakhwala, requesting them to avoid nailing banners on trees.
The NGO members said, “When senior party leaders are to arrive in the city for meetings and rallies or festivals are round the corner, local politicians install hoardings to attract the attention of their leaders and the public. Hundreds of posters can be spotted on trees across the district. The practice of hammering nails in the trees is damaging the trees and this is an act of willful violation of the norms of Environment Protection Act rules and orders of the National Green Tribunal.”
The NGO members said that though they had been running a campaign since May last year to remove banners and nails from trees, political parties and private educational institutes put up new hoardings as soon as old ones are removed.
Naresh Bhardwaj, environmentalist and executive member of Green Earth, said, “Not only the political parties, but coaching centres, educational institutions and other business entities too have put up banners and signboards with the help of nails and wires. Using nails, wires and other superficial attachments on trees and the covering of roots with concrete and interlocking tiles cause damage to the trees. During heavy rains and strong winds, the hoardings become a cause of accidents too.”
Bhardwaj said, “As the elections are approaching, a large number of hoardings are being put up again. So, we decided to request political leaders to ask their party workers and volunteers to at least spare the trees. We have sent letters to leaders of political parties. We also had a discussion with a couple of politicians on this issue. They have also expressed their concern and assured us that they will ask the workers not to put up banners on trees.”
