Punjab and Haryana High Court, directs Haryana Government to explore all possible alternatives to save the trees while undertaking widening of Morni-Panchkula road,-

While disposing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate H.C. Arora, a Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice and Justice Arun Palli, vide their order dated January 17th, 2022, recorded a statement of the Additional Advocate General of Haryana Government, that the representation dated January 6th, 2022 submitted by the petitioner would be considered by the authorities and that all possible steps, for saving the tress standing on either side of the Morni-Panchkula road will be taken while undertaking the widening of the Morni-Panchkula Road.

In his PIL, Advocate H.C. Arora stated that the respondent – State of Haryana is going ahead with the uprooting / cutting of 1137 trees which include 175 pine trees, and the remaining Khair trees, for the purpose of widening of the Morni-Panchkula road.

The petitioner has alleged that he had submitted a representation dated January 6th, 2022, to the Chief Secretary of Haryana Government, requesting that all steps and alternatives be considered for the purpose of saving maximum number of trees, while carrying out the project for widening of Morni-Panchkula road, but the respondents were going ahead with the uprooting / cutting of the trees standing on either side of the said road, without first considering the various actions and alternatives for the purpose of saving more than 1100 trees standing on both sides of Morni-Panchkula road.

The petitioner has alleged that he had submitted a representation dated January 6th, 2022, to the Chief Secretary of Haryana Government, requesting that all steps and alternatives be considered for the purpose of saving maximum number of trees, while carrying out the project for widening of Morni-Panchkula road, but the respondents were going ahead with the uprooting / cutting of the trees standing on either side of the said road, without first considering the various actions and alternatives for the purpose of saving more than 1100 trees standing on both sides of Morni-Panchkula road.

He had stated in his representation that it is necessary to maintain a balance between the environment and the development, but unfortunately the State of Haryana was considering only the aspect of development and construction of the road, while totally ignoring the duty to protect the environment by protecting the trees standing on either side of the road, and without conducting any study regarding the desirability of cutting / uprooting the minimum number of trees.

The respondents are going ahead with the widening of the said road and have started the process of uprooting/ cutting the trees.