Auction deferred as cutting trees for sports stadium meets with opposition

The long-delayed Sports Hub project at Burlton Park, which was recently revived after over a decade of uncertainty, has once again come under scrutiny—this time due to environmental concerns. The Jalandhar Municipal Corporation’s decision to chop down more than 50 trees for the construction of a new sports stadium has triggered strong opposition from environmentalists.

A scheduled auction of trees related to the project was supposed to take place today, when members of the Burlton Park Welfare Society intervened. As officials arrived at the park to proceed with the auction, a senior office-bearer of the society also reached the site, asserting that the process was in violation of law and order.

Harish Sharma, general secretary of the Burlton Park Action Committee, expressed his disapproval, stating, “What they are doing is not acceptable. I’ve made it clear to the officials. We will approach the High Court to seek legal intervention and ensure such actions are halted.”

Sharma criticised the Municipal Corporation for prioritising construction over conservation. “The Municipal Corporation’s responsibility is to provide civic amenities, not to destroy our green spaces in the name of development,” he added.

Although officials were present at the site, the auction did not take place. When contacted, Mayor Vaneet Dhir said, “The auction couldn’t be held because there weren’t enough bidders,” he explained.

However, Dhir affirmed that the project would move forward. “The auction will take place soon. For trees that will be cut, we plan to plant 300 more. These won’t be saplings, but mature trees—13 to 14 feet tall—to ensure quick growth,” he said, defending the administration’s environmental mitigation plans.

The project: The Sports Hub project, first envisioned more than a decade ago, was formally inaugurated on June 11 by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal. The ambitious plan includes the development of multiple sports facilities at Burlton Park, such as stadiums for cricket, football, volleyball, badminton, table tennis and judo. A swimming pool meeting international standards is also part of the blueprint. It is a Rs 77 crore project.

While supporters argue that the project will transform Jalandhar into a premier sports destination and boost talent, the Burlton Park Welfare Society general secretary maintains that it comes at the cost of environmental degradation and they will not let anyone cut any tree on the pretext of undertaking development.