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Time of India
09-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PAC warns of rising water levels at Bhakra, Pong dams
1 2 Bathinda: Pro-environment group Public Action Committee (PAC) has sent an urgent letter to Jal Shakti Ministry and Punjab government, warning that water levels at Bhakra and Pong dams are nearing critical thresholds. There is a high risk of downstream flooding within a few days, PAC members Jaskirat Singh, Amandeep Singh Bains, Kapil Arora, Kuldeep Singh Khaira, and others claimed. PAC is calling for precautionary measures to avoid repeating the mistakes that led to the devastating floods in Punjab in 2023. This flooding was due to operational decisions regarding the controlled release of water, which, in conjunction with heavy inflow in Bhakra and Pong Dam, led to sudden large releases. Mails have also been sent to chairman BBMB, chief secretary Punjab, chief engineer dam safety, BBMB to make available the information relating to maximum anticipated inflows and outflows, including flood warnings and any adverse impact on persons and property towards the upstream or downstream of the dam. They said the inflow and storage level in both dams have been rising for the last few days due to heavy rains in the higher reaches and the catchment area. However, the present release of water from the dams is far below safe capacity, creating a storage build-up risk and threat of a flood-like situation in Punjab. During the 2003 flooding, a Red Alert for many days by the meteorological department and continuous heavy inflow in both reservoirs, the outflow was restricted for several days. The sudden releases of 84,000 cusecs from Bhakra Dam and 142,000 cusecs from Pong Dam on August 16, 2023, and 79,000 cusecs, 130,000 cusecs on August 17, 2023, without prior gradual drawdown, resulted in severe flooding in Punjab. The PAC members also mentioned that after raising the issue of restricted flow till Aug 15, 2023, the data of inflow and outflow was kept hidden from the public at large, which is wrong as per sections 25 to 36 of the Dam Safety Act. These sections require emergency action plans, gradual releases, and information sharing to protect downstream life and property. This communication is being preserved for any necessary legal proceedings to ensure accountability, they said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
11-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Public Action Committee cracks whip over green norms violations on Ludhiana-Kharar stretch of National Highway-5.
Ludhiana: The Public Action Committee (PAC) on Wednesday served notice to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the forest department, and others for "blatant violation" of National Green Tribunal (NGT) norms regarding development of green areas along the national highway from Ludhiana to Kharar (NH-5). Besides NHAI and the state forest department, PAC also served a legal notice to the ministry of road transport and highways (MORTH) and the chief town planner of the department of country and town planning, Punjab, against such violations of NGT directions, the Green Highway Policy of 2015, and the IRC Code for the development of green areas along the same national highway, also known as Chandigarh Road. Engineer Kapil Arora and Dr Amandeep Singh Bains of PAC said the development of the 4-6 lane Chandigarh Road started in 2016-17, and a major portion was completed by 2021-22 with a capital cost of more than Rs 2000 crore. They added that there was no construction zone of 30 metres along the national highway outside MC limits and five metres within MC limits in Punjab since 1995, and such areas were to be developed as greenbelts by planting saplings. "However, many commercial outlets near Kohara, Morinda, and Khamano have come up in the recent past without leaving adequate space for plantation, and the NHAI as well as the forest department, both allowed 100% wide access to such commercial and industrial buildings. Further, many buildings have come up within 30 metres in active connivance with NHAI and the forest department," they alleged. Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Engineer Jaskirat Singh said the NGT had already directed the NHAI to plant trees within 30 metres from the end of the right of way along all national highways, and the forest department had been made the nodal agency to maintain green areas. "It was mandatory for the NHAI to acquire land for necessary plantation, but failed to do so, resulting in a gross violation of green norms. Though the NHAI planted saplings in some stretches, the width of the strip is also much less than 30 metres," they added. They also alleged that new projects were being developed on this national highway, and a 5.50-metre-wide service lane was to be developed along the national highway, for which a large number of old trees and newly planted saplings by the NHAI had been felled. The PAC members further alleged that the entire front width of such projects had been cleared of existing trees, and the areas were being developed as lawns, which is also against the directions of the National Green Tribunal. Preet Dhanoa and Colonel Jasjit Singh Gill alleged that despite knowing about the directions by the NGT, the Green Highway Policy, and the provisions of the IRC Code, the town planning department of Punjab was deliberately approving plans with service lanes within 30 metres, whereas there was ample space available outside the change of land use (CLU) boundary of these projects, which could have been used for the development of the service road. They claimed that with more projects in the future, saplings planted by the NHAI and the forest department would be axed too for the service road. "Thus, the NHAI and the forest departments are giving permission for the construction of service lanes by going against the NGT directions and green norms," they alleged. The PAC members added that as per Clause 1.4 of IRC-SP-21:2009, to ensure the availability of sufficient width for avenue plantation, the requirement of land for tree plantation should be assessed and included in the land acquisition plans prepared for a highway widening project. They added that the NHAI failed to acquire the land for plantation, which was mandatory as per IRC norms. "Accordingly, we have served notice upon all authorities to act within the next 15 days to clear the encroachments done by commercial outlets/eatery points within a 30-metre distance from the NH and start planting saplings of native trees thereafter. Further, as a precautionary principle, the town planning department must act and redesign the service lane to protect the remaining trees as well as the saplings planted by the NHAI," PAC said, adding that in case no action was initiated in the next 15 days, it would move the NGT with a plea to impose environment compensation on the NHAI as well as for sustainable development.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PAC seeks demarcation of green buffer zones and forest areas in Ludh
Ludhiana: The Public Action Committee has submitted a formal request to various authorities, including the principal secretary of town and country planning, forest department, irrigation department, municipal corporation, and Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (Glada), calling for proper demarcation of green buffer zones and forest areas in Ludhiana. Activists Amandeep Singh Bains and Kapil Arora highlighted that a notification issued on October 18, 2018, by the department of town and country planning specified requirements for a 15-metre green belt around the populated part of villages and between red category industry and residential areas. Additionally, it required 30-metre green zones alongside major canals and 10-metre zones near minor canals in Punjab. T by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Un Français invente un robot de trading 100% Gratuit Actualité Finance Lire la suite Undo he forest department, MC, and Glada continue to authorise projects that disregard these requirements. These infractions persist because Ludhiana's master plan lacks clear provisions regarding green buffer zones and forest areas. Kuldeep Singh Khaira noted that while Ludhiana has various small forest areas, their precise location remains unclear due to the absence of publicly available forest cover maps. This prevents the identification of potential forest land encroachments. Despite six years passing, no green buffer zones have been established near water bodies or villages, even as unauthorised developments have mushroomed in these areas. Jaskirat Singh pointed out that the forest department is inappropriately permitting tree removal along the Sidhwan Canal's project frontages, contradicting forest policy. Additionally, several minor canals have been covered in concrete after tree removal, without reinstating the required green buffer zones. Adjacent colonies are now unlawfully occupying this land. All departments should verify projects against Ludhiana's Master Plan before approval. The activists stated that they would approach the National Green Tribunal for directives if the departments failed to respond within three weeks.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PAC issues legal notice to authorities over illegal constructions on green areas in Ludhiana
LUDHIANA : A group of environmental activists has issued a legal notice to senior city authorities, accusing them of violating court orders systematically by encroaching upon greenbelts and parks in one of the country's most polluted cities. The Public Action Committee (PAC) on Thursday served the notice to the principal secretary of the local bodies department, the municipal corporation of Ludhiana, and the Improvement Trust (LIT), warning of legal action in the National Green Tribunal ( NGT ) if construction on protected green spaces is not halted and reversed within three weeks. Activists Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Dr Amandeep Singh Bains said the city faced an "acute shortage" of green areas, in the densely populated old city particularly and unauthorised new colonies. "Instead of addressing the crisis, authorities are worsening it — building over parks and greenbelts in blatant violation of Supreme Court and NGT rulings," they alleged. They further claimed these encroachments are happening in "active connivance" with agencies such as MCL and the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA). Other PAC members, including Kapil Arora and Gurpreet Singh Plaha, said that despite previous demolition orders, including one for the MC's Zone-D extension building and another for a library built in a park on Old GT Road, similar projects continued unchecked. "The pattern is clear: habitual defiance of legal orders," said Arora. "It appears officials are more interested in appeasing politicians than upholding the law." Citing current violations, the activists named fresh constructions underway at Old GT Road, Barewal Awana, BRS Nagar's Dog Park, and Janta Nagar's library park — all allegedly funded with public money. Activist Jaskirat Singh said multiple complaints filed through the Punjab govt's m-Sewa platform have gone unanswered. "These departments are a threat to sustainable urban development. They're not managing a single environmental project properly and are wasting taxpayer funds," he said, demanding that the cost of illegal constructions be recovered from the officials who authorised them. The PAC has demanded restitution of greenbelts and parks, warning it will escalate the matter to the NGT if no corrective action is taken within 21 days. MSID:: 121362354 413 |
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PAC issues legal notice to authorities over illegal constructions on green areas in Ludhiana
Ludhiana: A group of environmental activists has issued a legal notice to senior city authorities, accusing them of violating court orders systematically by encroaching upon greenbelts and parks in one of the country's most polluted cities. The Public Action Committee (PAC) on Thursday served the notice to the principal secretary of the local bodies department, the municipal corporation of Ludhiana, and the Improvement Trust (LIT), warning of legal action in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) if construction on protected green spaces is not halted and reversed within three weeks. Activists Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Dr Amandeep Singh Bains said the city faced an "acute shortage" of green areas, in the densely populated old city particularly and unauthorised new colonies. "Instead of addressing the crisis, authorities are worsening it — building over parks and greenbelts in blatant violation of Supreme Court and NGT rulings," they alleged. They further claimed these encroachments are happening in "active connivance" with agencies such as MCL and the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA). Other PAC members, including Kapil Arora and Gurpreet Singh Plaha, said that despite previous demolition orders, including one for the MC's Zone-D extension building and another for a library built in a park on Old GT Road, similar projects continued unchecked. "The pattern is clear: habitual defiance of legal orders," said Arora. "It appears officials are more interested in appeasing politicians than upholding the law." Citing current violations, the activists named fresh constructions underway at Old GT Road, Barewal Awana, BRS Nagar's Dog Park, and Janta Nagar's library park — all allegedly funded with public money. Activist Jaskirat Singh said multiple complaints filed through the Punjab govt's m-Sewa platform have gone unanswered. "These departments are a threat to sustainable urban development. They're not managing a single environmental project properly and are wasting taxpayer funds," he said, demanding that the cost of illegal constructions be recovered from the officials who authorised them. The PAC has demanded restitution of greenbelts and parks, warning it will escalate the matter to the NGT if no corrective action is taken within 21 days. MSID:: 121362354 413 | Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
