In a significant development at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana, the administration has announced it is actively considering an alternative plan to widen a major internal road without cutting down any trees. This comes a day after students held protests on campus against the potential removal of nearly a century-old green cover.
Administration Proposes a Greener Alternative
The university clarified that while a proposal for a 50-foot wide road had been under initial consideration, the project remains in the planning stage. Officials are now reviewing an alternative 40-foot road plan which, they claim, would ensure that not a single tree is removed from the campus.
According to the authorities, this revised proposal would allow all existing trees along the route to remain untouched. Instead of clearing the land, PAU is considering developing a five-foot green belt beneath the current tree line. This belt is planned to include evergreen, shade-loving ornamental plants, along with seasonal and flowering varieties, aimed at enhancing the landscape while maintaining ecological balance.
Vice-Chancellor's Statement and Student Action
PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal addressed the situation, stating that both plans had only been evaluated at the planning level and no final decision had been taken. He explained that Plan A involved a 50-foot road, while Plan B, the 40-foot roadway, would prevent tree cutting. He added that the area had been measured and marked according to different widths during preliminary assessments.
Dr. Gosal commented on the protests, suggesting that those who initiated them were "outsiders" and that students had joined without first seeking clarification from the administration. He expressed concern that the demonstrators did not approach the university for discussions, which he claimed were already underway internally.
Meanwhile, PAU students formally submitted a memorandum to the university authorities, demanding a complete cancellation of any proposal involving tree removal. They urged the institution to set an example in environmental conservation and commit to protecting its green cover, rejecting similar plans in the future.
Controversial Letter and Environmental Concerns
The situation was complicated by the emergence of a letter dated November 28, 2025, from the PAU estate office to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (West). This letter sought "necessary permission" for the "urgent need to uproot and dispose of 94 trees" for proposed development work. The communication included a map marking the road section for widening and the specific trees slated for removal.
This document raised serious questions among activists and students about whether a decision had been premeditated before the protest erupted. Environmental activist and PAU alumnus, Colonel (Retd) J S Gill, emphasized that the university must uphold the United Nations' sustainable development goals.
He advocated for methods used by several organizations globally, such as building infrastructure around existing trees, replanting them at feasible alternative locations, and ensuring compensatory plantation. Colonel Gill stressed that these practices preserve the natural ecosystem and align educational institutions with vital global environmental standards.
