Punjab: Heritage banyan trees cut down for tehsil office project in Samana

Punjab: While people in Patiala were busy planting saplings to celebrate World Environment Day, a controversy erupted over the proposed felling of around 10 trees, including a decades-old banyan tree, for the construction of a new tehsil office building in the neighbouring Samana town. The project, being executed by the Public Works Department (PWD), is expected to be inaugurated by the chief minister in the coming days. However, the plan to clear the site has been criticised by local residents and environmentalists. The trees in question, some of which are estimated to be over 60 years old, stand at the proposed construction site and are considered an important part of the city’s ecological and cultural landscape. “These banyan trees don’t just add greenery – they are part of our heritage. They provide shelter from the scorching heat and serve as habitats for birds, squirrels and many small creatures,” said Ramesh Bansal, a resident of the area.

A formal complaint has been submitted to the local bodies department, seeking to save the trees. Another resident stressed the environmental value of trees, saying, “Trees are the lungs of our cities. Cutting them for development sends the wrong message. We should make efforts to preserve them, not destroy them.” Dissociating the civic body from the project, the executive officer of Samana Municipal Council said the construction was being managed only by the PWD. “We are not involved in the execution or planning of this project,” he said. Seeing the growing concern, Samana Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Richa Goyal said, “The matter has come to my notice. No trees have been cut yet. I have sought a detailed project report from the PWD to check whether provisions for compensatory afforestation were included in the approved layout.” She said efforts would be made to explore alternatives that would help preserve the trees. “There is one such banyan tree standing right outside my office – it is a pleasant sight every day. We will make every effort to save it,” she asserted.