MIANWALI, June 25: The town is presenting a gloomy look after the uprooting of 600 trees in just two days. The culprit is the tehsil municipal administrator (TMA) which auctioned the trees for Rs2.50 million. The contractor accomplished the job swiftly, before any public outcry. Most of these trees had planted during the British rule on either side of the roads connecting city and a majority of them were century old rare species.

TMA Nazim Amjad Khan while justifying the massacre said new plantation would be started soon.

Lashing out at the nazim, ex-MNA Inamullah Niazi said the TMA should first plant new trees before cutting the old. He also labelled the locals as blind-folded as none raised voice against damage to environment. — Correspondent