Ludhiana's Kidwai Nagar residents hold protest evoking spirit of Chipko Movement to save 20 silver oak trees

In a heartfelt demonstration of environmental concerns, residents of Kidwai Nagar staged a peaceful protest on Sunday at Shaheedi Park here against the proposed felling of over 20 Silver Oak trees for an overhead water tank project.

The protest saw active participation from women and children who hugged the trees evoking the spirit of the Historic Chipko Movement.

Environmentalist Gagnish Khurana emphasised the ecological importance of the 35-year-old trees and their role in maintaining the urban green cover while Vinod Kapoor, a local resident, called for transparency and invitation for public consultation of such infrastructural projects.

The protest remained peaceful and symbolic, reflecting the community’s commitment to sustainable development and environment preservation.

Khurana said the city was having shortage of green areas, especially in Old Ludhiana such as Kidwai Nagar. The area under parks will not come out to be more than 1 per cent whereas minimum 8 per cent area is required even for affordable housing projects.

The project of surface water supply was worth Rs 1,660 crore but it seems that officials are not applying their mind for sustainable development. As held by the high court, it was mandatory to inform local residents around parks before taking any decision about construction of a water tank by means of a public notice on flex in the park. But no such procedure was adopted and now, they have come to destroy the remaining green area in the name of development, he said.

Kapoor said they were not against construction of the water tank but it should be constructed at the same spot after demolition of the old water tank. The Supreme Court has termed axing of trees equivalent to murder. But here, the development authorities have no vision to save the environment, he said.