Faridkot Tree Felling Proposal Sparks Outrage
An environmental and political controversy has erupted in Faridkot over the state government's proposal to cut down 784 decades-old trees on the premises of the defunct Faridkot Cooperative Sugar Mill. The plan, which aims to clear the 137-acre site for an industrial park, has faced strong opposition from local residents, farmer unions, and environmental organizations under the Jal Jeevan Bachao Morcha (JJBM).
MLA Accused of Hypocrisy
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its local MLA, Gurdit Singh Sekhon, are on the defensive. Protesters at the site on Friday displayed videos and photographs from May 2021, when Sekhon, then an Opposition leader, along with former AAP MP Sadhu Singh, led a fast against the previous Congress government’s plan to cut 2,100 trees at the same location. While that agitation saved around 800 heritage trees, residents now accuse the same leadership of seeking approval to fell the remaining canopy.
High Court Scrutiny
The scale of the proposed environmental clearance has drawn strict scrutiny from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. A week ago, a Division Bench stated that the court could not “close its eyes” to the large-scale tree felling. Expressing displeasure over the lack of administrative effort to find alternative sites for the industrial hub, the Bench directed project proponents to submit detailed records, including Google satellite imagery and at least 10 high-resolution photographs from multiple angles.
Government’s Defense
Defending the project, MLA Gurdit Singh Sekhon acknowledged the plan to develop industrial infrastructure but insisted that environmental balance would be preserved. “The development of an industrial park is crucial for local employment. The axing of some trees is necessary to lay roads as per the proposed layout. However, we have a comprehensive plan to plant a large number of trees to compensate for the loss. I deeply honour the sentiments of our residents, and we will proceed strictly as per the HC directions,” Sekhon said.
Protests on World Environment Day
Marking World Environment Day on Friday, many local tree-lovers, social activists, and student groups gathered at the mill site, raising slogans against what they termed the “double standards” of administrative policies that promote symbolic sapling drives while dismantling century-old ecosystems.
