Widening of Sirhind canal: Action initiated against officials over felling of trees

The Forest Department has initiated action against officials of the Water Resources Department in connection with reckless felling of trees and damaging the roots of others in the Machhiwara forest area as part of the Sirhind canal widening project.

The department has found that over 100 trees had either been felled or damaged during the widening of the canal by the contractor engaged by the Irrigation Department.

“The action has been initiated under the Indian Forest Act and the Forest Conservation Act. A report regarding felling of trees and causing damage to ecology and wildlife has also been prepared,” said RK Mishra, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Punjab.

Divisional Forest Officer, Ludhiana, Rajesh Gulati has written to the police to register a case against Executive Engineer Damandeep Singh and two SDOs of the Water Resources Department.

The uprooting of trees led to strong protests by environmentalists. The Public Action Committee (PAC) has moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT), seeking an FIR in the matter, besides seeking imposition of environment compensation on the Water Resources Department.

Officials handling the project said, the project involved widening and lining of the Sirhind canal to increase its capacity from 12,000 cusecs to 15,600 cusecs of water. The work on a 1.5-km stretch in the Doraha area of Ludhiana began this month.