Monsoon Arrives, Farmers Relieved; Environmental Governance Under Scrutiny

July

2026

Rains lashed parts of Panjab on 2 Jul, signaling the entry of the southwest monsoon and bringing much-needed relief from a prolonged heatwave. The onset of the monsoon is crucial for farmers as the paddy transplantation is currently underway. Maximum temperatures fell sharply across the state, leading to a significant drop in electricity demand. Meanwhile, Panjab’s environmental governance has come under sharp scrutiny as environmentalists have flagged multiple cases of reckless felling, uprooting of mature and heritage trees for development projects—often without mandatory approvals. Panjab is yet to enact legislation for the protection of trees in urban areas outside notified forests, though it has proposed a penalty for violators. Taking cognizance of the matter, the Punjab and Haryana High Court (PHHC) imposed a strict state-wide ban on the cutting or uprooting of any trees without explicit prior judicial permission. In a recent order, PHHC also granted an interim stay on the felling of 3–5K mature trees proposed for the Zirakpur-Panchkula bypass project. In Faridkot, a proposal to cut 784 mature trees at the 137-acre premises of the defunct Faridkot Cooperative Sugar Mill to develop an industrial park has triggered protests by residents, farmer unions, and environmental groups. In February 2026, a 100-year-old banyan tree and several fruit-bearing trees located on Bhakra Beas Management Board’s land were cut in violation of the PHHC’s ban at the post office building in Nangal, Rupnagar district. Additionally, an Amritsar-based youth has won a national award for highlighting the significance of kikkar (Vachellia nilotica) as a tree of life in an art exhibition. Organized by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, the competition received 12K entries from students of classes 7–11 from across India. The exhibit prepared by Sehajpreet Singh Sokhal, a Class 8 student, was selected as a national winner. Sehajpreet says, ‘It is one of the native trees of Panjab that is disappearing rapidly…It is ecologically and culturally significant, and also supports livelihoods through its role in farming’. The kikkar’s value lies in its practical use in everyday rural life in Panjab. It thrives in harsh conditions, is used in agroforestry, provides fodder for livestock, and its wood is used to make agricultural implements. But the tree is disappearing from Panjab (earlier coverage).