Tree felling across Punjab stayed by high court
High court stays felling of trees across Punjab
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday ordered a complete stay on the cutting of trees across Punjab. The court passed this order while expressing serious concern over the fast decline in green cover in the state. The stay will remain in force until the next date of hearing, which is yet to be announced.
The order was passed by a bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry. The judges said the level of environmental damage in Punjab is worrying and could soon cross the point from where recovery may not be possible. The court asked the Punjab government’s lawyer to immediately inform all concerned authorities about the stay on tree felling.
Court raises concern over green cover
While hearing the matter, the High Court compared Punjab’s green cover with that of Rajasthan. The judges noted that even Rajasthan has around 4.8% green cover of its total geographical area, while Punjab and Haryana have even less. The bench said this clearly shows how serious the environmental situation has become in these states.
The court observed that continued damage to forests and trees could disturb the environmental and ecological balance beyond repair. It warned that if such degradation continues, it may become impossible to restore nature to a healthy state in the future.
The case before the court was filed by Shubham Singh, who challenged a recent decision of the Mohali administration. The decision allowed the cutting of 251 trees for the construction of three roundabouts. These roundabouts are proposed near Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan in Sectors 78 and 79, and near the CP-67 mall. The project is being carried out by the Greater Mohali Development Authority (GMADA).
The petitioner argued that cutting such a large number of trees for road projects would cause long-term harm to the environment. After hearing the arguments, the court decided to put an immediate stop to tree felling for projects and other activities across the state.
The detailed order of the court is still awaited. However, the judges made it clear that protecting the environment must be given priority over development projects that lead to large-scale deforestation.
ALSO READ: Bird flu outbreak in Kerala: Causes, risks, symptoms, treatment and what you need to know
Data shows alarming deforestation
During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer, Harlove Singh Rajput, presented detailed data to show the serious impact of deforestation in Punjab. He told the court that large-scale tree cutting by authorities is causing permanent damage to the state’s fragile ecology, biodiversity, and ability to deal with climate change.
Referring to the Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, Rajput said Punjab has lost a significant portion of its green cover over the last 22 years. He also cited an affidavit filed by Punjab’s principal chief conservator of forests before the National Green Tribunal.
According to this data, Punjab’s forest cover declined from 2,432 square kilometres in 2001 to just 1,846.09 square kilometres in 2023. In percentage terms, forest cover dropped from 4.80% to 3.67% during this period. Tree cover also saw a decline, falling from 1,634 square kilometres (3.20%) to 1,475.15 square kilometres (2.92%).
Rajput told the court that when forest cover and tree cover are combined, Punjab’s total green cover reduced from 8% in 2001 to only 6.59% in 2023. This places Punjab among the lowest-ranking states in the country in terms of forest and tree cover.
He also highlighted that deforestation is not just a local issue but a national and global concern. Referring to an international report by UK-based consultancy firm Utility Bidder, Rajput said India ranks second in the world in terms of deforestation rate. He told the court that India has lost around 6,68,400 hectares of forest cover over the past three decades.
The report also shows that between 1990 and 2020, India recorded the highest increase in deforestation globally. During this period, the country saw a net forest loss of about 2,84,400 hectares. Rajput said these figures clearly show the urgent need to strictly enforce forest conservation laws.
He warned that unchecked deforestation will lead to serious ecological consequences, including loss of wildlife, worsening air quality, rising temperatures, and reduced ability to handle floods and droughts.
After hearing these arguments, the High Court decided that immediate action was necessary to prevent further damage. By staying the felling of trees across Punjab, the court has sent a strong message about the importance of protecting the environment.
The case will be heard again on a later date, which has not yet been fixed. Until then, no trees can be cut for development projects or other activities in the state. Environmental groups and citizens have welcomed the court’s decision, calling it an important step towards saving Punjab’s fast-disappearing green cover.
Related News
