Advertisement
Environmental activists in Ludhiana have issued a legal notice to municipal authorities for allegedly allowing illegal construction on protected greenbelt areas, violating Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives. The Public Action Committee (PAC) has given officials a three-week deadline to reverse the encroachments or face legal escalation before the NGT. Activists accuse agencies like the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, Improvement Trust, and GLADA of collusion in facilitating these violations, including building extensions on parkland. They demand restoration of affected areas and strict adherence to environmental laws. The case highlights growing tensions between urban development and ecological protection, potentially setting a precedent for other cities.
Legal action has been taken by environmental activists in Ludhiana against municipal authorities, who they claim are infringing on protected greenbelt areas and disobeying orders from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Supreme Court. Earlier this week, the Public Action Committee (PAC) issued a legal notice to the principal secretary of the local bodies department, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MCL), and the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT), demanding the immediate halt and reversal of unauthorised constructions within a three-week deadline. The PAC warned that failure to comply would result in escalation of the matter before the NGT. Advertisement
The activists pointed out that Ludhiana is already grappling with a severe shortage of green spaces, particularly in densely populated localities and unauthorised colonies. They claimed that authorities have exacerbated this environmental crisis by permitting and even facilitating constructions on designated parks and greenbelt areas. According to the PAC, this encroachment is not incidental but involves active connivance between agencies such as the MCL and the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA).
The issue is compounded by the fact that despite previous demolition orders against illegal structures, including the extension of the Municipal Corporation?s Zone-D building and a library erected on parkland along Old GT Road, similar infractions continue to proliferate unabated. These actions flagrantly contravene binding legal rulings issued by the Supreme Court and the NGT, which have long emphasised the protection of urban green belts as vital for ecological balance and public welfare.
The activists have demanded restoration of the greenbelt areas and parks to their original status, urging the authorities to adhere strictly to environmental regulations. The PAC has expressed its readiness to pursue further legal remedies should the stipulated time frame for corrective action lapse without compliance.
Historically, Ludhiana?s rapid urbanisation and industrial expansion have placed immense pressure on its green zones, with several instances of parkland being converted for residential or commercial use. Environmentalists warn that unchecked encroachments threaten not only biodiversity but also the city?s air quality and overall livability.
This legal intervention comes at a critical juncture as municipal bodies across India face increasing scrutiny over their role in managing urban growth sustainably. The outcome of the case in Ludhiana may well serve as a benchmark for enforcing environmental protections in other cities facing similar challenges.
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
