Encroachments in 25 parks, green belts in Ludhiana: National Green Tribunal forms panel to take action

After a petition was filed by Public Action Committee (PAC) against encroachments in over more than 25 parks and green belts in Ludhiana, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formulated an independent joint committee comprising a member of the MoEF&CC, PPCB and a district magistrate to verify the allegations and take remedial as well as punitive action against the encroachers.

Kapil Arora of the PAC said that despite issuing notices against commercial activities like opening of Verka booths in parks, an ongoing construction of a vending zone at green belt on Old GT Road, a library building in Vishwakarma Park, departments concerned continue to violate the rule of law. Further, the MC has constructed office buildings, an Aam Aadmi Clinic and residences in a park at Kidwai Nagar illegally and was now going to construct an overhead water tank in green areas of the same park.

Members of PAC added that all such issues had been raised before the Bench. Arora further said that in this case they had taken up the issue of encroachments allegedly done by the MC, LIT and GLADA. However, there are large number of green belts and parks in which encroachments had been done by private persons and that matter would be taken up separately, the committee members said.

“Since departments themselves have encroached upon green areas, we hope that besides ordering demolition of encroachments, strict action will be recommended and taken by the joint committee,” he said.

Meanwhile, today members of Public Action Committee also filed a complaint against alleged poisoning of five full-grown trees at 200-Foot Road, Dugri. Amandeep Bains and Kuldeep Singh Khaira said that yesterday while going for some work, they noticed five full-grown trees located along the service lane of 200-Foot Road had completely dried up even in the monsoon season. However, similar native trees standing before and after these trees were green and in very good condition. From their condition, it is clear that these trees had been allegedly poisoned to remove them.

PAC members added further that in the complaint filed with Principal Secretary, PUDA, Ludhiana DC, GLADA CA and Ludhiana DFO, they had requested to take the samples of soil as well as outer shell of these trees in their presence and get the same tested at an accredited laboratory.

In case, the reports are positive, i.e. allegations are found to be true, then an FIR must be registered as per The Tree Preservation Policy of Punjab 2024.

“As the matter is very serious and as held by Supreme Court, damage to trees is equivalent to murder. We have asked the authorities to act within two days, failing which we will move the NGT as per law,” said Khaira.