Engineers seek action against axing of trees near DC’s office in Ludhiana

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 30

When environmental activists have been demanding from Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to put a ban on the axing of trees for at least 10 years, some big trees have been badly cut down near the DC’s Office at the Mini-Secretariat here. Now, the Council of Engineers have sent a complaint to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Punjab, Ludhiana DC and Forest Department against the axing of trees, seeking strict action in this regard.

Kapil Arora of the Council of Engineers said the eight well-grown trees had been axed near the Suvidha Kendra on the premises of the DC’s office. “We have demanded a probe into the matter and required action against the officials concerned for the axing of the trees,” he said.

Arora said: “The axed trees were around 30-70 years’ old. Despite knowing the facts that there was an acute shortage of green cover in the state and Ludhiana is one of the most polluted cities of the country, the trees have been axed unnecessarily. It is a well-known fact that due to the development of the road infrastructure, the number of such aged trees in Ludhiana has decreased considerably during the past one decade. For any city, the old trees are termed heritage property. Such act of axing trees is shameful and unacceptable.”

Superintending Engineer, LIT, Boota Ram, said the trees had been axed after getting required permission for the construction of the road.

“It is a two-way road. Earlier, one side of the stretch was constructed and now, the other side has to be constructed,” he said.

Meanwhile, advocate HC Arora has also sent a complaint to the CM against the axing of trees on the premises of the DC office, Ludhiana. He has sought inquiry in the matter.