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Supreme Court Seeks Punjab Land for Highway Tree Replacement
The Supreme Court told Punjab to suggest land where new trees can be planted to make up for trees cut during highway construction.
The judges said they were concerned about Punjab’s declining forest cover and the afforestation plan not being carried out.
The National Highways Authority of India has asked the court to review orders that restrict tree cutting for road work.
The authority says those restrictions are slowing public road projects.
Its lawyer also said some roads are needed for strategic purposes.
The court asked whether replacement land was being provided within five kilometres of where trees were cut.
The lawyer said that sometimes happened, but not always.
The Punjab government must respond to the petition by November 27.
The Supreme Court directed Punjab to propose adequate land for compensatory afforestation linked to national highway construction.
The three-judge bench expressed concern about declining forest cover in Punjab and the afforestation plan’s lack of implementation.
The court issued notice on the National Highways Authority of India’s challenge to Punjab and Haryana High Court orders restricting tree felling.
The Punjab government was asked to respond by November 27, and the NHAI was told to serve it with the petition.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the restrictions were hampering road projects, including roads he described as strategically necessary.
- Who
- The Supreme Court of India, the Punjab government and the National Highways Authority of India.
- What
- The court directed Punjab to propose land for compensatory afforestation and issued notice on the NHAI’s challenge to restrictions on tree felling.
- Where
- Punjab, in connection with construction of national highways.
- When
- Thursday; the court sought Punjab’s response by November 27.
- Why
- The court raised concerns about declining forest cover and implementation of afforestation, while the NHAI argued that tree-felling restrictions were hampering road construction.
Highway Construction
Tree Protection and Afforestation
Restrictions on tree felling
Highway Construction
The NHAI, through Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, said continuing restrictions were hampering public road construction and stalling projects.
Tree Protection and Afforestation
The Punjab and Haryana High Court orders restrict tree felling during road construction; the Supreme Court raised concerns about forest cover and the implementation of compensatory afforestation.
Replacement land for trees
Highway Construction
Mehta said land could not always be provided within five kilometres of where trees were felled, though trees were still being planted.
Tree Protection and Afforestation
The Supreme Court directed Punjab to propose adequate land for compensatory afforestation and asked whether replacement land was available near tree-felling sites.
Key facts
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Bench
- Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana
- Afforestation direction
- Punjab was directed to submit a proposal for adequate land where required for national highway construction.
- Petitioner
- National Highways Authority of India
- High Court orders challenged
- Several Punjab and Haryana High Court orders restricting tree felling during road construction
- Response deadline
- November 27
- Land-proximity question
- The bench asked whether afforestation land was being allocated within five kilometres of tree-felling sites.
Quotes
Supreme Court bench
The three-judge Supreme Court bench hearing the matter.
“There cannot be a continuing mandamus. We are bound by a statutory requirement for compensatory afforestation. It is mandatory for felling of trees. Punjab is a border state and some roads are required to be constructed for strategic purposes.”
deccanchronicle.com
“The State of Punjab is directed to submit a proposal re: provision of adequate land for compensatory afforestation wherever the same is required by the NHAI for construction of the subject-National Highways.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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