Ensure legal framework for protection of urban trees in 6 mths: NGT to Chief Secy 

The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered the Chief Secretary, Punjab, KAP Sinha, to frame proper laws for the protection of urban trees in the state of Punjab.

Taking a serious note of the lack of legislation and punitive action regarding tree felling in the state, the NGT, in its last hearing on May 29, had ordered an action taken report on the issue within six months (before the next date of hearing on October 8, 2025). During the course of the hearing, the State Chief Secretary sought six months for the same.

The Tribune had reported the matter of felling of trees at the P& T colony in Jalandhar in a news report titled "After Civil Hospital, now trees axed at P&T Colony" published in these pages in October 2024.

The order was issued during the hearing on a petition filed by Jalandhar based environmental activist Tejaswi Minhas, against the felling of 13 green standing trees at the Post and Telecom Residential Colony in Jalandhar near Shastri Chowk. During the hearing, the matter of the legislative framework existing in the state for protecting the trees came up.

Following concerns raised by Minhas regarding urban tree cover and policy in the state, the Tribunal directed the Chief Secretary on May 29 - "to look into these and ensure appropriate protective, punitive and remedial action" and directed the State (government) to "file further progress/action taken report before the 8 October, 2025".

Issues raised by Minhas included no clear provision on where to make complaints regarding tree felling under the Tree Preservation Policy for Non Forest Government and Public Land, 2024; no urban tree census; tree felling violators going free in urban areas; etc.

Notably, the tribunal, during proceedings - dated May 27, 2025 - also noted the gap in the state tree preservation policy and that it does not cover trees standing on private land.

The tribunal hence directed that the state authorities must clarify the legal framework existing in the State of Punjab to regulate illegal felling of trees in non-forest land.

The Chief Secretary was also directed to appear virtually before the tribunal on May 29 and to disclose as to "why no steps have been taken till now to have a framework to protect trees in non-forest land in state."

The Chief Secretary, present virtually in the May 29 hearing, submitted that no legislative framework existed in state as of now to prevent illegal felling of trees, but said a process would be initiated for ensuring presentation of the Bill for the same in the next session and sought six months for the same.