Movement begins to save 250-year-old banyan tree

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 28

On a call of a farmer from Seham village falling in Nakodar, a mass movement has started to save a 250-year-old banyan tree in the middle of the land being acquired for the NHAI project.

Farmer Balbir Singh has said, “This tree is the pride of our village. It is a home to hundreds of birds. Various cattle and small animals rest under the shade of this tree. Even labourers working in our village take rest in the afternoon under the huge canopy of this tree. We will not let this tree be axed”.

While the farmer had already been getting the support from the village, members of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) and nihang organisations, even the city-based environment lovers, have joined him for the cause.

“This is a heritage tree and we have to save it”, wrote Jagdish Chander, an activist, on the social media, asking volunteers and NGOs to join for the cause. He has even urged everyone to visit the spot to discuss alternative plans to save the tree and offer the solution to the administration. The residents have also appealed to Rajya Sabha member and environmentalist Balbir S Seechewal for the cause.

Farmer Balbir Singh said, “About 4.5 acre of my land is set to be acquired by the NHAI for the Bharat Mala Project. I have no issues with my land being taken away. I am ready to give more land for the project. I am just insisting that this tree should be saved. It will add up to the beauty of the NHAI project and become a landmark too”.

The farmer said he was being offered an additional Rs 45,000 for this tree but he had refused to accept the payment. “This tree did not come in the way of the original road plan for the NHAI project. The administration has worked at the behest of a former Congress minister to get the road passage shifted by 300 feet towards the tree to save a rice sheller of his relative from being acquired”, Balbir Singh revealed.