Amid plantation drives, Amritsar MC chops trees to lay canal water supply pipeline

Amritsar, July 14

Though all MLA, MPs and government departments have initiated plantation drives, the municipal corporation (MC) has been chopping fully grown trees on the Majitha-Verka bypass road. Environment activists have voiced concern with some of them visiting the site and trying to stop the MC workers. Ironically, the MC had got approval from the Forest Department to axe trees in the green belt along with national highway to lay the canal-based 24×7 water supply line.

The main line from Vallah water treatment plant to the city is being laid on the bypass road. The project has been getting delayed as the company did not have the approval for chopping trees. Now after getting the approval, the trees are being axed.

The environmentalists visited the spot and spoke to the project in-charge asking him to stop chopping trees. However, officials pacified them by informing about the importance of the project. The activists claimed that despite having the technology to transplant a fully grown tree, hundreds of trees were being uprooted on the national highway which was worrisome. Earlier, the authorities had axed more than 300 trees on the bypass road while constructing service lanes.

“We are already facing an environmental crisis. Yesterday, Member of Parliament Gurjeet Singh Aujla launched a campaign to plant saplings and today the authorities are chopping fully grown trees. The administration should make effort to transplant trees instead,” said activist Ranjodh Singh.