Punjab Environmental Governance Under Scrutiny Amid Rising Cases of Illegal Tree Felling
Environmentalists have flagged multiple cases of reckless felling and uprooting of mature and heritage trees in Punjab, often without mandatory approvals, to make way for development projects. This comes at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign is encouraging tree planting across the country.
High Court and NGT Interventions
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has imposed a strict state-wide ban on cutting or uprooting any trees without explicit prior judicial permission. In a recent order, the court also granted an interim stay on the felling of 3,000-5,000 mature trees proposed for the Zirakpur-Panchkula bypass project.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken serious note of allegations regarding illegal felling of 140 mature trees near Phawara Chowk in Barnala, including neem, banyan, peepal, mulberry, teak, kikar, and jand. Acting on a petition by environmental activist Gurpreet Singh Kahneke, the NGT directed the registration of an FIR against officials of the Barnala Improvement Trust.
Other Incidents Across Punjab
In Barnala’s PUDA Market, a nearly 100-year-old neem tree was allegedly cut illegally, with no legal proceedings initiated despite official communications. Hundreds of trees were reportedly cut along the Dhaula-Dhurkot road for a proposed road project. In Faridkot, a proposal to cut 784 mature trees at the defunct Faridkot Cooperative Sugar Mill to develop an industrial park has triggered widespread protests. In February, a century-old banyan tree and several fruit-bearing trees were illegally felled at the post office building in Nangal, violating the High Court’s ban. In Malout town, trees planted in 2019 were allegedly uprooted for a volleyball court.
Low Forest Cover and Environmental Concerns
Jaskirat Singh from Public Action Committee highlights that Punjab has one of the lowest forest covers in India. Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh stated that India’s total forest area is 25.17% of its geographical area, while Punjab’s forest cover stands at just 6.59% — the lowest among all states. Environmentalists emphasize that protecting old and mature trees is as crucial as planting new saplings. With several cases pending before courts and tribunals, the coming months will be critical for balancing development with environmental protection.
