Trees cut in Fazilka, why plant saplings elsewhere: Activists

Environmentalists have expressed concern over the government’s decision to plant new trees in other district of state in lieu of those cut here for the widening of the Fazilka-Abohar stretch of the National Highway-7.

Environmentalists Navdeep Asija, Vikramaditya Ahuja and Subodh Verma said over the past a few months, 14,114 trees had been axed over 171 acres between Abohar and Fazilka. According to the Forest Department, only 1.98 per cent area is under forest cover in Fazilka, the lowest in the state.

Despite this, saplings are being planted in other districts,” rued Asija demanding the withdrawal of the move. According to information obtained from the Forest Department in an RTI application by Asija, new trees are being planted in Pathankot and Amritsar.

Asija said Rs 68 crore had been deposited by the National Highways Authority of India to the state government for the cutting of trees in Fazilka district. The environmentalists said as per government record, 14 per cent of the area in Fazilka’s environmental plan is available for tree plantation. “Despite this, the Punjab Government is claiming that there is no area available in Fazilka for new trees,” Ahuja added.

Verma said if the government or the Forest Department still could find a suitable location, they had a list of places where new trees could be planted.