Photo Source: Babushahi Network
Sangrur residents protest against ruthless cutting of trees, demands Singla to arrange for planting 400 trees
Sangrur, April 24, 2021: Protesting against the approach of the PWD officers posted in Sangrur towards nature and them axing trees in the name of development, the residents of Sangrur have asked School Education and PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla to make a plan to plant at least 400 trees in the city to restore ecological balance.
The residents have also written letter to Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan on this issue.
“We think you should plan to transplant at least 400 trees in Sangrur city as it could repair the damage to the ecological imbalance to some extent. The Congress party is known as the Green Party as it has always protected nature. How could you allow officials to take the opposite path to the ideals of the party you are representing?” wrote the residents to Singla further suggesting he read the book: Indira Gandhi-A life in Nature by Jairam Ramesh.
They further claimed that the PWD officers posted in Sangrur did not stop the cease of falling of trees near Kali Mata Mandir along with various other issues.
Before
After
The protesting residents also mentioned that in March last year few have approached the minister through an email as well as personally when the PWD was going to axe the heritage trees on the telephone exchange road which was not called for.
"When Vipin Bansal who was then the XEN and Ajay Garg, SDO tried to still push it the residents had to approach the NGT to stop this illegal felling, hence managed to save the trees on this road," the protesting residents mentioned
"Mr. Singla, the felling did not cease as then came the turn of trees on the Kali Mata Mandir road. The XEN, PWD had promised us on your behalf a month before the felling of these trees that not a single branch would be touched on this road. But to our utter dismay, 27 trees were mercilessly axed under the supervision of the SDO, Mr. Ajay Garg, and the XEN was not aware of this act. The SDO reported to him that trees were pruned which you also conveyed telephonically to one of the residents; indeed a blatant cover-up. How long can all the wrong being done by your officers be covered up?? Even a visually impaired person would also state that they were cut by a mere feel of touch. Sad indeed," the residents added in the letter.
Coming down heavily on the PWD minister, the residents criticized him for his 'lackadaisical' approach towards the infrastructure development of the city.
In the letter to Singla, the residents highlighted several pending works of the city including the up-gradation of Maharaja Ranbir Club despite the approval of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.