Nature lovers oppose axing of trees for four-laning of Patiala-Sirhind road
Patiala, July 11
Environmental activists and NGOs are getting together to find an alternative to the cutting of trees on the Patiala-Sirhind road. Several nature lovers assembled at Baradari Garden and discussed the possible solutions and steps to save over 7,300 trees and around 20,000 saplings on the road. This would allow four-laning of the road without axing trees.
Nature lovers said the government should stop chopping trees and plant those 7,000 trees and 20,000 saplings at the same place or within 10 km of the area as per the NGT guidelines.
They said the government should acquire land on the roadsides, and instead of having a concrete divider, trees should act as a natural divider.
The four-laning of the busy Sirhind-Patiala road has begun, raising hopes among commuters in the city, neighbouring towns and villages for a smoother travel. However, there is a green cost to the project—as many as 7,392 full-grown sheesham, eucalyptus, kikar, and neem would be felled.
Each side of the road would be 8.75 m wide, with a 1.2-m median. A steel bridge costing over Rs 10 crore is being constructed on the Bhakra canal along this stretch. As many as 60,000 saplings would be planted in Hoshiarpur and Ropar as compensatory afforestation.
The Sambh Sambhal Foundation met the newly elected Patiala MP, Dharamvira Gandhi, and Health Minister Balbir Singh to discuss alternatives to cutting of trees.
The Public Action Committee (PAC), the body of environmentalists, has lodged a complaint with the NGT, demanding an immediate ban on the cutting of trees on the Patiala-Sirhind road. The PAC, in a communiqué, stated that trees with a diameter of one foot could be transplanted easily; however, these were also being chopped. Further, no additional land was acquired for planting trees, and compensatory afforestation of trees being cut in Patiala would be done in Hoshiarpur and Ropar.
