Samana, June 7 — Plans to construct a new tehsil office building in Samana have drawn sharp criticism after reports emerged that nearly 10 mature trees — including several heritage banyans over six decades old — may be felled for the project.
The proposal, being carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD), is expected to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister in the coming days. However, environmental groups, local residents, and elected representatives have raised alarm over the ecological cost of the project.
Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi has intervened in the matter, urging the district administration to explore alternative plans that would preserve the old trees. “This is not merely about trees, but our ecological and cultural heritage. The administration must find a way to build without destroying our roots,” he said in a statement.
In response to the growing backlash, Deputy Commissioner Preeti Yadav visited the proposed site on Friday. “No trees have been cut yet. I have asked for a detailed report from the SDM. One tree is safe, and we are examining options to save another,” she said, adding that the administration is reviewing the situation closely.
The proposed felling of the trees triggered an immediate wave of protest, with environmentalists and green activists flooding the Chief Minister’s office with emails and social media messages calling for urgent intervention.
Retired Colonel Jasjit Singh Gill, a former member of the State Task Force on the Buddha Dariya Rejuvenation Project, condemned the growing practice of prioritising construction over conservation. “These banyan trees should be considered heritage trees. Not long ago, they were protected even from being used as firewood. Now they are casually sacrificed in the name of progress,” he said.
Gill pointed out that many of the trees have survived for decades because they were planted within government premises, which protected them from human interference. “We have talented architects in Punjab capable of designing around trees. Development should not come at the cost of our green legacy,” he added.
Local residents echoed similar sentiments, calling for sustainable development that respects nature. “These trees are part of Samana’s identity. Losing them would be like erasing history,” said Ramesh Sharma, a schoolteacher who lives near the site.
As of Friday evening, the fate of the trees remains undecided, but mounting pressure on the administration suggests a public review of the project may be imminent.