The concerned citizens along with shopkeepers of Indira Market protested against the felling of 33 green trees from the historic Pavilion Ground for construction of a sports hostel.
Apart from being detrimental to the environment, this action would also go against the very purpose for which land was donated by a private citizen to make Pavilion Ground — to encourage football, said the protesters.
Members of Citizens for Green Doon (CFGD) along with shopkeepers of Indira Market on Sunday protested against the proposal of Sports Department to fell 33 green trees in the stadium to make a hostel for sportspersons.
Among the protesters was Amit Jain, whose family had donated the land to civic authorities for promoting football. He said the agreement was very clear that the land was only for promotion of football and to make a hostel was against the terms of land donation.
Sanjay Bhatt, a shopkeeper from Indira Market and an AAP leader, said the trees are a necessity in the area as the area has degenerated into one of the most polluted areas in the city and felling trees would only aggravate the pollution.
The CFGD members said that they will oppose the move to fell trees and would meet the Sports Minister on this issue soon. They said that the proposed hostel can be built on Parade Ground where there is ample space.