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Jalandhar: Thousands of trees are being sacrificed for the development of roads in the state and the environment is being tampered with. Farmer Balbir Singh of Saham village in Nakodar constituency has been fighting for environmental protection for the last two years to save a 250-year-old banyan tree. The government has also rejected the proposal to pay for the trees in addition to the land. Apart from the villagers, pro-environment social service organizations have also joined the ongoing struggle to save the trees. However, there are also tombs of saints near this banyan tree, where religious fairs are also held.
Farmer Balbir Singh of Seham village said that the expressway is being constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Bharat Mala project of the central government. It is passing through the middle of the village. He has already given away his four and a half farms. A 250-year-old banyan tree is planted in his farm coming in the expressway. Apart from being the identity of the elders and the village, the tree is also a big basis for environmental protection. He told that when his grandfather came from Pakistan, the tree was very big. His elders took care of it. Its trunk is 10-15 feet wide and it is spread over an area of about two kanals. Apart from this, the Peepal and Sarinh trees at the same place are also about 95 years old. The government is ready to give an additional Rs 45,000 for the cost of cutting the tree apart from the money for the land, but they have flatly refused. Due to the struggle to save the tree, they have stopped the work of the highway at that place for the last six months. However, the company has cut down about 250 plants and 15 to 20 big trees in the area. He has also talked about taking legal help to save this tree.
The previous government changed its strategy to save the sheller of its minister's relative
Balbir Singh alleges that the central government had earlier planned to build an expressway about 300 to 400 feet away from the said place. It was changed to save the shell of a relative of a former minister of the previous state government and now the central and state government officials are pressurizing to cut the trees. He said that they are trying hard to save the trees. In this regard, the matter has also been placed before environmentalist Rajya Sabha member Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal. He said that one tree is equal to about 1000 trees and gives better oxygen. Thousands of birds nest on this tree. He said that the officials of the company building the highway and the government should slightly increase the gap of 40 feet between the expressway and remove the tree from there. This will set an example and will also increase the beauty of the expressway. However, there are many such trees in foreign countries which are on the highway. There is a Peepal tree on the 66 feet road leading to Ugi village nearby.
Environmentalist and Rajya Sabha member Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal says that efforts are being made to save trees for environmental protection. The company has been negligent in the survey. During the survey, the company should have made a plan keeping in mind the 250-year-old tree. The company will have to bear the consequences. He has said that he will support people who save trees.
Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal says that the NHA officials and SDM are constantly trying to solve the said problem. However, the farmer has taken compensation for the trees coming in the way of the expressway. Soon the problem will be solved and work will be started.
SDM Nakodar Gursimran Singh Dhillon says that the land on which the tree is planted belongs to the Waqf Board. The compensation will go to the Waqf Board. Apart from the 250-year-old tree on which the farmer is claiming, he has taken compensation of Rs 45,000 for other trees at that place. A meeting has been held with him to resolve the issue.