Felling of trees in SSLNT college sparks outrage

Dhanbad: The felling of trees inside the SSLNT Women’s College premises has triggered widespread protests, with student organisations accusing the administration of violating environmental norms and bypassing necessary permissions. According to sources, trees were felled over the past few months under the pretext of development work inside the campus.

After receiving information, officials from the forest department reached the college on Friday to inspect the site. DFO Vikas Paliwal confirmed that an inquiry was underway. “We have received photographs and visuals showing tree cutting, dry leaves, stumps and branches scattered inside the campus. Further action will be taken after verification,” he said.

Student groups, especially members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), strongly criticised the move. They alleged that the college administration initiated the cutting without obtaining permission from the forest department and without assessing environmental impact.

“Removing trees in the name of development is unacceptable. Students used to sit under the shade during college hours. This step is neither in favour of students nor the environment,” said Mandip Saha, a student leader.

Several students expressed emotional attachment to the greenery of the campus. “We felt shocked and annoyed to see the trees cut down. We have spent years studying under their shade,” said Anjali, a student of the college.

When contacted, college principal Sharmila Rani defended the action, claiming that the necessary approval had been granted. She said the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the university, had provided written permission for the cutting of trees. “There is nothing wrong in cutting the trees as it is required for ongoing development work,” she stated.

The forest department’s inquiry is still in progress, and further action will depend on the findings.

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