Chandigarh Deputy Mayor Alleges 'Major Betrayal' in Massive Tree Felling and Illegal Construction Scandal

Well, this certainly isn't the kind of news you want to hear from a city known for its greenery, is it? Chandigarh, a place often lauded for its well-planned urban landscape and environmental consciousness, finds itself embroiled in quite the controversy. At the heart of it all is Deputy Mayor Kuljeet Singh Bedi, who hasn't minced words, leveling some truly serious accusations against officials from the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and the Punjab Forest Department.

Bedi, visibly frustrated and concerned, describes their alleged actions as nothing short of a "major betrayal." He's talking about a shocking scale of environmental damage: the purported illegal felling of a staggering 1,000 trees. And as if that weren't enough, he claims between 40 to 50 unauthorized structures have sprung up in Sector 53 – an area that, crucially, sits right on the edge of the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary. We're talking about a highly sensitive, protected buffer zone here, folks.

Now, let's unpack this a bit, shall we? This isn't just about a few trees disappearing. This specific area in Sector 53 falls within the 100-meter buffer zone designated around the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary. Why is that important? Because the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has very clear, very strict orders in place protecting this delicate ecosystem. So, any activity, especially large-scale felling and construction, should immediately raise a red flag. Yet, according to Bedi, these activities went ahead, seemingly unhindered, if not actively facilitated.

The Deputy Mayor alleges a blatant connivance, a sort of hand-in-glove operation, between certain officials from both GMADA and the Forest Department. He points out that permits for felling these trees were reportedly issued under the guise of "clearing land for farming." But Bedi sees right through that, calling it a flimsy pretext to pave the way for what he believes is illegal construction. It’s hard not to feel a pang of concern when you hear such claims, especially when they involve public servants tasked with protecting our environment.

Perhaps one of the most damning parts of his account involves the Municipal Corporation (MC) itself. Bedi recounts how a team from the MC, led by Joint Commissioner Navjot Kaur, attempted to intervene and halt these unauthorized activities. Can you imagine? They were doing their job, trying to enforce the rules, only to be "forcibly stopped" – yes, you read that right, forcibly stopped – by officials from GMADA and the Forest Department. It paints a picture where those meant to uphold the law were instead actively obstructing those who were trying to do so. It's a truly disturbing thought.

This isn't just a minor oversight; it's an alleged systematic breakdown of environmental protection and administrative accountability. Bedi isn't letting this slide, stating his firm intention to escalate the matter. He plans to bring these serious allegations to the attention of the Chief Minister, the Punjab Governor, and, of course, back to the National Green Tribunal. It's a necessary step, for sure, because if these claims hold true, the implications for Chandigarh's environmental future, and indeed for public trust, are immense.

While the land in question might be privately owned, the law is clear: private ownership doesn't grant anyone the right to violate NGT orders or wreak havoc on crucial buffer zones. The integrity of our wildlife sanctuaries and the air we breathe depend on rigorous adherence to these rules. One can only hope that these allegations are thoroughly investigated and that justice, both environmental and administrative, is served. The people of Chandigarh, and frankly, anyone who cares about responsible governance, deserve nothing less.