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Ludhiana: After years of neglect, Ludhiana MC officials have finally recognised the importance of tracking urban trees . A comprehensive, GIS- and GPS-based mapping and quantitative analysis of trees under MC’s jurisdiction is slated to take place in the coming days in Ludhiana, on directives from the National Green Tribunal. MC officials, after taking all permissions, have floated tenders to hire a firm for the purpose.
Recently, a joint committee formed in the case of encroachments over green belts had also advised the civic body to get a trees census done. The primary objective of this survey is to prevent illegal cutting of trees, a long-standing issue of the city. Despite numerous incidents, no violators have been prosecuted, with civic body officials merely filing police reports.
Now, the mapping will help officials keep track of GPS location of trees. JS Gill, former member of the state task force for Buddha Dariya Rejuvenation project, had also brought this matter to chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s attention. Gill said unlike the forest department, the MC and Ludhiana Improvement Trust lack records of existing, planted, and surviving trees under their jurisdiction.
This absence of accountability has emboldened tree-cutters, who view trees as obstacles to their properties’ aesthetic appeal. A senior MC official confirmed the census plans, stating they had taken permission from the technical advisory committee a few months ago. He said the tree census will focus on roadside trees, maintaining records to track damage or cutting.
NGT had ordered the civic body to conduct this census and disclose park information on social media, which MC has done. The MC lacks adequate staff in the horticulture wing due to which existing employees cannot be given the task of counting the trees. The MC, in its reply in the NGT in Oct 2023, had submitted that over the last five years, more than 1.
5 lakh plants and shrubs were planted in the city. MC Is maintaining 892 parks and green belts, and it has developed approximately 20 acres of new green belts and parks in 2022. We also published the following articles recently Science of plant life to help rejuvenate century-old trees Raj Bhavan is undertaking a project to rejuvenate seven century-old fruit-bearing trees that are in decline.
Using traditional Ayurvedic methods, conservationists from Kerala will work on restoring the health of these historical trees. The initiative will be inaugurated by Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. Illegal tree felling continues in city unabated Illegal tree felling persists in Coimbatore despite various awareness programs.
Recent incidents include setting tree trunks on fire and pouring acid into a peepal tree. Environmentalists urge stricter measures against offenders, who often face minimal consequences. The district green committee, with limited volunteers, struggles to manage the increasing cases.
Nashik tree authority cautioned against deviation from Trees Act provisions & public interest The Bombay High Court has instructed Nashik Municipal Corporation's Tree Authority to comply with the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of the Trees Act, 1975, when issuing tree felling permissions. The court highlighted that any deviation from legal norms or public interest would be taken seriously, in response to a PIL filed by activist Hrishikesh Nazre..
