"Save public park, save environment", say Residents of Aggar Nagar, Ludhiana

Ludhiana: Many residents of Aggar Nagar, a posh locality of Ludhiana have shot off a representation to Punjab Cabinet Minister for Cooperation Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa to direct President of The Ludhiana Aggarwala Cooperative House Building Society Ltd., Aggar Nagar, Ludhiana, not to convert the locality’s public park into parking. The minister has been told that if this park is converted into a parking then it will be a clear violation of NGT (National Green Tribunal). 

According to the representation, the Ludhiana Aggarwala Cooperative House Building Society Ltd. is going to convert the park opposite State Bank of India (Sector-B) into parking, whereas use of land to any use without the approval of Cooperative Department is against all norms of natural justice and fair play. 

“The lovers of greenish culture are pained to point out when a resolution for conversion of park site into parking has been passed illegally on 20/01/2020 by The Ludhiana Aggarwala Cooperative House Building Society Ltd., Ludhiana”, reads the representation, adding that “such a wrong step of the society will crush the rights of kids, tiny tots and children because the park is having facility of swings for children.”

Further, the representation reads that “it is not out of place to mention that this step is also a clear violation of CLU/MLU because the public parks location is the public property and not of any individual.”

“The House Building Society has made the mockery of the rule of law because the executives of The House Building Society need to convey that they are not bothered about the rules which is very much surprising”, further reads the representation. The minister has been further apprised in the representation that reads that “in this connection it is added that as per General Body Meeting of the society held on 08/11/1998, it has been clearly stated that no green belt area will be disturbed at all.” 

Signatories to the representation have urged upon the minister to send a 3-member committee for an inquiry into the matter. They hoped that the minister will take suitable action in this regard. 

Meanwhile, on being contact, some of the locality residents told City Air News that the public park is a value addition to the beauty and environment not only for the locality but for its surrounding areas. People living in and around the locality get fresh air with the greenery in the park. On one hand city needed much more such public parks in view of acute environment issues and on the other hand there is a move to destroy this public park. “We shall not hesitate to knock doors of the court for seeking justice if we were compelled for the same”, they added.