Ludhiana resident moves NGT against civic body, LIT, GLADA

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, April 18

Council of Engineers president (CoE) Kapil Arora today filed a contempt petition with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against illegal axing/felling of trees and causing severe damage of roots of trees in the name of ‘urban environment improvement programme’ (UEIP) by the Municipal Corporation, the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) and GLADA.

In his petition, Arora alleged that nine trees — with age varying around 3 to 35 years, were axed by the MC near the community centre in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar near Canal Bridge.

He said the matter was also raised with the Chief Conservator of Forests (Plain Zones) and District Forest Officer on March 30.

“However, despite explicit directions of the NGT, no action had been taken by the concerned authorises to date. Now, the stems of axed trees have also been uprooted by the MC staff,” he added.

The petition further mentioned that the size of the central verge of Malhar Road – being converted into a ‘smart road’, was being reduced and the roots of many trees were being cut to adjust the paver blocks by the Ludhiana Smart City Limited (LSCL).

“This action is against the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, as well as directions of the NGT, vide which the tribunal has directed the MC, the LIT and GLADA to leave open space of one meter in radius around trees in the city. However, all three departments are deliberately ignoring the directions of the law and are continuously causing damage to the environment,” said Arora.

It has also been maintained in the petition that while fixing of interlocking tiles along roadsides in Block-F of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar colony, the LIT had completely damaged the roots of several trees, of which two have already fallen and third may fall at any time in near future.

Citing orders made by the NGT on September 5, 2018, Arora stated that as per these directions any felling of trees in Punjab must be done strictly after following the statutory procedure which has to be monitored by the Regional Officer of the Union Ministry of Forests, Environment and Climate Change, Chandigarh. It has also been laid down that if any tree has been illegally cut or damaged, appropriate action may be taken against those responsible.