Jalandhar green activists upset at mutilation of trees, submit memo to horticulture department
A group of citizens and environmentalists met the Joint Commissioner for Horticulture, Dr Mandeep, at the Municipal Corporation office and submitted a memorandum against the widespread tree mutilation in the city.
The group, led by members of the local environmental organisation Rukh Baba, sounded the alarm over the excessive pruning practices that leave trees stripped of their leaves and reduced to barren stumps.
Jagdish Chander, a member of the Rukh Baba, highlighted the recent instances of tree mutilation on Garha Road and near the district courts on Police Line Road. He presented photograps of seven such cases to the Joint Commissioner and emphasised the urgency of the issue.
Responding to the concerns, Dr Mandeep assured the group of her commitment to addressing the problem. She explained that a shortage of gardeners may be contributing to the overzealous pruning as workers attempt to minimise their workload.
In their memorandum, the group stressed the environmental repercussions of such practices, pointing out that leaves play a crucial role as carbon sinks and pollutant absorbers. “Punjab already has the lowest tree cover in India. This reckless lopping further destroys green cover, disrupts ecosystems and endangers biodiversity, including birds and insects,” said Dr Navneet Bhullar, an environmentalist.
Dr Archana Berry urged the Municipal Corporation to use social media campaigns and radio jingles to raise awareness about the consequences of overpruning, describing it as “ecocide.”
Echoing the concerns, Dr Pawandeep said, “Citizens are effectively deforesting Jalandhar for the winter season. Trees are the lungs of our environment and their leaves lie discarded in heaps across the city.”
The group also highlighted that the excessive pruning often far exceeds the necessary clearance required for utility lines. “A senior engineer from the electricity department informed us that only three feet of clearance is needed between trees and power lines, but we are seeing branches cut back as much as 15 feet,” the group pointed out.
They also urged residents to intervene and stop such destructive practices. They urged the public to cite the MC orders for minimal pruning when confronting workers.
