NGT issues notice over illegal tree cutting in Punjabs Barnala, 140 heritage trees felled near Fountain Chowk
National Green Tribunal issues notices to Punjab officials over alleged illegal cutting of 140 heritage trees in Barnala; joint panel formed to probe environmental damage
PTC Web Desk: Amid the reports of the alleged illegal cutting of heritage trees in Punjab's Barnala city, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to several senior officials across departments. These included the Punjab Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary of the Rural Development and Panchayats Department, the department’s Director, Barnala Deputy Commissioner, senior forest officials, representatives of the Improvement Trust, local panchayat members and the SSP.
It comes following a petition filed by Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Kahneke village. He has alleged that officials of the Barnala Improvement Trust, in connivance with other departments, has uprooted at least 140 old trees near Fountain Chowk in Barnala. Some of these trees were estimated to be over 50 years old.
According to reports, the felled trees included environmentally significant species such as neem, banyan, peepal, mulberry, teak, kikar, tahli and jand. Heavy machinery was used during the operation, causing serious environmental damage, claims the petition.
The petitioner has also alleged inaction by the authorities concerned despite repeated complaints.
The plea further gave instances of similar tree felling in villages Dhanaula, Bhagtgarh, Badbar and the PUDA market area in Barnala, which have also been taken into consideration by the NGT.
Taking the allegations seriously, the NGT has formed a joint committee comprising representatives from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in Chandigarh, and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Punjab. The PCCF has been designated as the nodal agency for coordination.
The committee has been directed to conduct a site inspection, verify the allegations, ascertain the exact number of trees cut, identify those responsible and recommend both remedial and punitive actions. It has been asked to submit its report within four weeks. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on July 3.