Axing of trees: Register FIR against Irrigation Dept officials, others, says PAC

On Friday, the Public Action Committee (PAC) has filed a complaint with the Regional Officer of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change as well as District Forest Officer of Ludhiana against engineers of the Irrigation Department and private contractor concerned for illegally axing a large number of trees, illegal mining, burning of wood in forest as well as installation of batching plant (concrete mix) within the forest area of Ludhiana along the Sirhind Canal Feeder near Doraha.

Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Samita Kaur said after the axing of trees was highlighted on social media, members of the Public Action Committee (PAC) visited the location near Doraha and found serious violations.

“When we contacted the DFO, Rajesh Gulati, he sent the Range Officer as well as guard to the location. When the other side of the canal bank was inspected, it was found that illegal mining had been done by the contractor along sides of trees situated within the forest area, resulting into major damages to roots. Many trees have leaned towards one side due to excavation as well as cut roots, which indicates that the trees have loosened their grip with the earth and likely to fall at any time in the near future,” said Khaira.

Er. Kapil Arora and Jaskirat Singh, PAC members, said parts of tree trunks were found lying there and the earth was removed in arched shape which indicates that trees from these spots had been axed. Besides illegal mining, one batching plant to cement concrete has been installed within the forest area. Two underground water tanks have also been constructed by excavating the forest area. It is a matter of investigation that how such huge machinery has been allowed to set up by the Irrigation Department by going against the environment norms. Some workers of the contractor have also made hutments and are regularly burning forest leaves and dry wood within the forest area which was causing air pollution and further damage to the environment.

Members of the PAC Dr Amandeep Singh Bains, Col JS Gill and Gurpreet Singh said this forest belt was a natural habitat of wildlife and illegal mining, axing of trees and installation of machines have resulted in major environmental damages as well as threat to wildlife.