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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.
Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana's green spaces under threat, says residents' body
Raising concern over the shrinking green spaces in the city, the Public Action Committee (PAC) has given a complaint to the Ludhiana municipal corporation and Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) for allegedly constructing buildings within city's greenbelts, highlighting a complete violation of Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders. In a complaint submitted to the principal secretary of the local bodies department, PAC members urged immediate intervention, warning that if action is not taken within three weeks, they will approach the NGT. PAC member Kuldeep Singh Khaira pointed out that Ludhiana, already battling with critical pollution levels, continues to lose its green lungs due to unchecked construction. 'There is already a scarcity of parks in the older parts of the city and in many unplanned colonies. Despite this, greenbelts are being encroached upon under the nose of MCL and LIT,' he said. Social activists Kapil Arora and Gurpreet Singh Plaha said that similar illegal constructions had earlier been ordered for demolition, including the MC Zone-D extension building, which was razed following NGT directions. 'Even after clear orders, public funds are being used for fresh constructions in green zones, be it the Barewal Awana park area, the dog park in BRS Nagar, or a library structure in Janta Nagar. It shows that authorities are ignoring legal precedents and environmental concerns,' said Arora. PAC members Jaskirat Singh and Preet Dhanao said that repeated complaints on the mSewa App and to various departments had gone unanswered. 'Green areas are being sacrificed for unapproved construction, and the money spent is ultimately coming out of public pocket. It should be recovered from the officials who gave such illegal approvals,' they added. The PAC strongly emphasised that such actions go against the spirit of sustainable development. 'Instead of working towards environmental protection, these authorities seem more interested in pleasing political interests,' said the members.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Voices against plan to set up paper mill in Chamkaur Sahib get louder; cite environmental concerns
Patiala: A large number of activists gathered at a gurdwara in Fatehpur village near Chamkaur Sahib on Monday to show their opposition to a proposed paper mill in the area, citing concerns over the unit causing pollution. The gathering comes over a week after environmentalist and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal had written to the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and the Punjab environment minister to urge them to junk the clearance to the mill. Environmentalists from Punjab Action Committee (PAC), Ludhiana, including Kapil Arora and Jaskirat Singh, and activists such as Gangveer Rathore, Amitoj Mann, Lakha Sidhana, Hamir Singh, and Parvinder Kitna, attended the gathering. Residents of nearby Dhaulran, Fatehpur, Bassi Gujran, and other villages too participated in the gathering. The project had earlier sparked a controversy over the owners taking over part of panchayati land in the village. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Jeśli chcesz zabić czas na komputerze, ta gra 2025 jest koniecznością! Bez pobierania Forge Of Empires Dowiedz się więcej Undo People at the gathering decided to oppose the setting up of the mill during a public hearing on April 30. However, before the public hearing, activists carried out mass mobilisation against the setting up of this mill, for which around 130 acres of land has been acquired, covering land in Bassi Gujran and Dhaulran villages. They said 24.5 acres of land belonged to the village panchayat of Dhaulran, but it was sold by a village panchayat in the past, allegedly under political pressure. Rathore said 62 village panchayats in Chamkaur Sahib had passed resolutions against the setting up of the mill in Dhaulran, which also comprises over 50% of the Dalit population. "Around 40 village panchayats had earlier passed resolutions against the setting up of this paper mill. However, in the last few days, 22 more village panchayats have passed a resolution to oppose the mill," he said. MSID:: 120699412 413 |
