Ludhiana, July 20 -- A shopkeeper in Sarabha Nagar has been accused of cutting down a tree illegally, drawing sharp criticism from environmentalists and residents alike. Activists have accused the Municipal Corporation (MC) of turning a blind eye to repeated violations and failing to take any meaningful action.

The incident, which occurred near the civic body's own premises, has triggered calls for accountability and stricter enforcement. According to the activists, they immediately reported the matter to the civic body, but like previous cases, officials only gave verbal assurances.

An activist, Kapil Arora, said, "Every time we complain, we're told that an FIR will be lodged - but no one has ever been punished. If no FIR is registered...