Chandigarh, Dec. 25 -- Expressing concern over the depleting green cover in the state, the Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) on Wednesday stayed felling of trees for projects and other activities till the next date of hearing.

The bench of chief justice Sheel Nagu and justice Sanjiv Berry observed that even Rajasthan has 4.8% green cover of the total geographical area, whereas Punjab and Haryana have less than that. "..(the kind of) environmental degradation the state is getting into, it appears it may cross the point of no return and restore environmental and ecological balance," the bench observed while passing the order and asking the Punjab government counsel to apprise relevant authorities about the order in no time. The detailed o...