Open house: Do we need enhanced vigilance to save green belts on Ferozepur Road from encroachments?

Need better accountability

Frequent controversies over encroachments on green belts along Ferozepur Road raise serious questions about governance and urban priorities. Once designated as ecological buffers meant to reduce pollution, manage heat and enhance urban livability, green belts are being converted into informal parking zones and pockets for roadside commerce. The pattern suggests opportunistic misuse and a persistent failure on part of the enforcement agencies. Regulations exist only on paper. Weak monitoring, sporadic penalties and possible complicity allow such violations to reoccur despite periodic clearance drives. Keeping this in mind, citizen vigilance is essential. Active public reporting, community pressure and civic engagement can compel authorities to act responsibly and in a transparent manner. Ultimately, preserving green belts is not merely an environmental concern, but a matter of urban sustainability and quality of life, requiring stronger institutional accountability as well as an alert and participatory citizenry.

Novin Christopher

Book erring officials

Environment conservation is a legal compulsion for government and a moral responsibility for the public. The destruction of green belts has become a trend. The government bodies and panchayats should take suo motu cognisance of such acts and take decisive action. But it rarely happens. The public should be vocal and action oriented. They should plant and nurture saplings. In case of any violations, we should file formal complaints, highlight the issue on social media and approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The trees along roads come under the Department of Forestry. The local bodies are responsible to act if any environmental degradation in colonies. If the officials concerned do not act, a case on charges of dereliction of duty should be registered against them.

Harpreet Singh

Improve urban planning

Encroachments on green belts reflect weak enforcement as well as growing pressure in urban areas. In areas like Ferozepur Road, illegal parking and commercial use are gradually eating into vital green spaces. Authorities must strictly enforce laws, impose penalties and use technology, such as surveillance systems, to monitor violations. However, enforcement alone is not enough. Citizens must play an active role by reporting encroachments and valuing the ecological assets. Better urban planning, including designated parking and commercial zones, can reduce such misuse. Protecting green belts requires a balanced approach of strong governance and responsible civic participation.

Panthpreet Kaur

Issue not unique to city

We shouldn’t stop the green belt project. It is good for nature and helps keep the city clean. However, illegal parking and commercial activities are problems that need to be addressed. Cities like Gurugram and Delhi also face similar issues.

Prabhjot Singh Khalsa

Officials give into political pressure

Some officials in the Municipal Corporation (MC), Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) and the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) succumb to political pressure and allow encroachments on public parks, green belts and spaces under pillars of flyovers. The bodies themselves have also been accused of converting green spaces into concrete structures, including vending zones, parking, mohalla clinics, libraries, offices, scrap yards and booths, among others. Despite repeated instructions from the NGT to remove encroachments, no significant improvement has occurred. The government should make civic bodies more transparent and hold them accountable. Regular audits and strict action against corrupt officials can help. Along with this, the civic bodies need to be empowered, giving them more autonomy to take decisions without political interference. Communities should more involved in park management and encouraged to report encroachments. The authorities should use satellite imaging and other technologies for monitoring encroachments. Hefty fines and penalties should be imposed on those found guilty of encroachments. The officials responsible for allowing encroachments should be held accountable and given the responsibility of ensuring the restoration of green belts. The costs incurred should be recovered from them as well.

RS Sembhi

Authorities at fault

The authorities are at fault for letting the situation worsen to such an extent. It is the administration’s responsibility to ensure green belts are properly maintained. As it stands today, most of them are either barren or full of weeds. The nature should not be compromised in the name of development. The green belts should be fenced, if needed. Stricter rules should be introduced and stern punishment be imposed on anyone damaging the green belts in the city.

Aftab Bains

Up enforcement measures

The green belts are meant to serve as the city’s lungs. The situation reflects a failure of enforcement, allowing public spaces to be misused without accountability. If left unchecked, such practices will lead to long-term environmental damage and loss of urban greenery. The authorities must launch strict enforcement drives and impose heavy penalties on violators. Regular monitoring and the use of technology, such as closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera surveillance, can act as effective deterrents. The authorities should also introduce an online complaint system for citizens to report violations. Awareness campaigns can further encourage people to protect green spaces.

Gurkirat Kaur

Citizenry shouldn’t stay silent

It is disheartening to see the city’s green belts slowly vanish. The spaces were created to give us fresh air, shade and a sense of calm in the middle of busy roads. A big reason behind this is weak and inconsistent enforcement. Authorities carry out drives once in a while, but without regular monitoring, the problems return. Over time, it makes people feel the rules don’t really matter. At the same time, we, as citizens, can’t stay silent. When we ignore such encroachments, we indirectly allow them to grow. If more people raise their voices, report violations and support green initiatives, it can push authorities to act responsibly. The green belts are not just decoration. They are essential

for our health as well as the environment. Saving them requires strict action from the authorities, and awareness and responsibility from the citizens.

Veerpal Kaur

Activists must take a stand

The authorities and the administration must conduct operations to clear encroachments. The persistent illegal activities and neglect of public spaces indicate enforcement is weak or ineffective. Despite official warnings, the problem of using green belts for illegal parking and commerce persists. Citizen vigilance has become essential. Environmental activists must come together and take a stand.

Mohammad Saleem Farooqui

Issue leads to poor air quality

The result of encroachments on green belts is environmental degradation. The air quality in areas like Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and the adjoining colonies has deteriorated to “poor” and “hazardous” levels. Enhanced citizen vigilance is already proving to be a critical tool in efforts to curb such encroachments. The MC should be held accountable for its failure to enforce existing laws. We can save green belts through the use of official channels, like the mSewa App to report encroachments, illegal parking and unauthorised construction. People should also join hands, and form more collectives and groups to work in this direction. Collective action amplifies individual voices and creates the pressure needed for legal action. We should use social media, write to local newspapers and engage with our neighbours to highlight the issue. Sustained public attention makes it harder for authorities to ignore the problem.

Farzana Khan

Fence green areas

The green belts are meant to provide environmental benefits and improve the quality of life. The authorities and the citizens share the responsibility of protecting these spaces. The government should take strict action by imposing hefty fines and installing CCTV cameras to monitor encroachments. Proper fencing and regular inspections can help restrict unauthorised access and prevent misuse. Designated parking spaces should be developed to reduce the pressure on green belts. Strict monitoring by local authorities and quick response to complaints can also help improve the situation. At the same time, citizens must become more aware of the importance of green belts. Awareness campaigns, community participation and educational programmes can encourage people to act responsibly and preserve these spaces.

Simranjeet Kaur

Issue explained

URBAN green belts are meant to act as the lungs of a city. They are buffer zones that reduce pollution, provide shade and preserve ecological balance. Enhanced vigilance by residents through reporting violations, resisting commercial use and supporting awareness campaigns could complement official enforcement. The

issue is larger than parking spots or kiosks; it reflects how urban priorities are negotiated between development and sustainability. If enforcement remains lax, the city risks losing vital ecological spaces. However, if citizens and authorities work together, green belts can be preserved, ensuring cleaner air and healthier surroundings for future generations.

QUESTION for next week

The Halwara International Airport is set to start flight operations soon. Will the airport transform the state's connectivity and economy, or will it remain underutilised like other regional airports, such as the one in Sanhewal?

Suggestions in not more than 150 words can be sent to ludhianadesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (April2).