Development at a cost: Stadium proposal at village school sparks ‘tree-cutting’ concerns in Muktsar

The proposal to construct a sports stadium on the premises of Government Senior Secondary School at Sukhna Ablu village in Muktsar has sparked opposition from environmentalists and some village residents, who claimed that the move could lead to the loss of over a hundred fully grown trees. According to them, the trees stand in a corner of the school ground and along a pathway, which do not obstruct any academic or sports-related activities. They further argued that the project was being pushed in the name of development without due consideration for its environmental impact.

“The area is not even spacious enough to accommodate a full-fledged stadium. The proposal to construct a stadium here is not a far-sighted decision. If there is any proposal, then the stadium should be built elsewhere in the village.



Some people had gathered in the school on Tuesday to discuss this issue,” said a former sarpanch of the village. Meanwhile, some village residents claimed that a sports ground was a major requirement, and that some people were now playing politics in the name of trees. “When buildings are constructed by cutting down trees, hardly anyone speaks.

Now, a stadium is only at the proposal stage, and some people have made it an issue. There is no village panchayat land available nearby, which is why the school ground has been selected for the proposed stadium. We will plant trees as per the rules once the construction of the stadium is sanctioned by the authorities concerned,” they claimed.

On this, Jaspal Monga, District Education Officer (DEO), Muktsar, clarified that the project is still in the proposal stage. “There is a proposal by the school management committee to construct a stadium within the school campus. However, no trees have been cut down yet.

We will conduct an assessment of the trees to determine their condition and only then approach the Forest Department for necessary approvals,” he said. The DEO further claimed that many of the trees in question are bent and could pose a safety risk to students. “Student safety is our priority, and any action will be taken only after a proper evaluation and in accordance with all required procedures,” he added.

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