The cemented tree guard with ‘Pani Ram’ embossed on it had become symbolic to most of the trees planted on the road side of Udaipur city.

More than 5000 trees across the city has been raised and cared by the Pani Ram society since year 2000, was banned in 2011 by the Municipal Corporation of Udaipur over an alleged violation of advertisement law.

According to the Corporation, Pani Ram has pasted advertisement on tree guards which is prohibited according to the new commercial law passed in 2011.

However, Gopal Porwal, founder of Pani Ram society defies the ban and successfully obtained stay orders from court. Despite, the court’s order the ban is still effective; hence Porwal knocked High Court’s door against Corporation.

“When I started this initiative, I was supported by then District Collector, Municipal Council and Urban Improvement Trust, the commercials were also permitted at that time to help us raise funds for taking care of our expenses”, said Porwal.

“We have employed 16 people to take care of all the plants and grown up tress under Pani Ram project, the NGO is also active in other districts of Banswara, Dungarpaur, Rajsamand and Pratapgarh”, he further added.

The society has recently invented substitute for cement prepared from marble slurry, and is also in the process of launching a pump control machine, which will help saving both power and water.

Gopal Porwal also alleged that few local corporators demanded money that he earned from advertising, “although balance sheets of organization clearly state that a sum of around Rs. 18 lac was over spent, which was raised from various sources on zero percent interest.”

When contacted Rajni Dangi, Mayor of the city, she said that the organization is banned due to violation of law and they (Pani Ram Society) used to put unlawful ads.

Porwal deny all charges and believes that he was prey of a conspiracy.

Irrespective of allegations on Porwal, the city of Udaipur is ‘decorated’ with hundreds of illegal advertisement banners and posters in every nook and corner of the roads; may be, because the Municipal Corporation is unable to take action against political parties and big shots, who advertise openly anywhere.

The question is, are the organizations like Pani Ram who were doing something for the sake of environment was banned just because of soliciting advertising?