The Supreme Court has allowed BMC to cut more trees for the GMLR project, but only if compensatory afforestation is carried out strictly. The court also warned that negligent officers will face stern action.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Monday allowed the Tree Authority in Mumbai to consider a new request made by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to cut more trees for the Goregaon–Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project.
The permission was given on the condition that compensatory afforestation is carried out “scrupulously”.
Earlier, on July 29, the Supreme Court had allowed BMC to cut 95 trees in Mumbai’s Film City for the same project. But on October 27, a bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai had expressed strong concern over the poor progress of compensatory afforestation in Mumbai.
The bench had warned the Maharashtra government that it may cancel all past permissions for cutting trees for major projects such as the Mumbai Metro and the GMLR.
At that time, the court said the state must present
“a concrete proposal as to what steps are being taken”
to ensure that compensatory plantation is done
“in letter and spirit.”
During Monday’s hearing, the bench — also comprising Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice N V Anjaria — took note of the affidavit submitted by the Maharashtra chief secretary.
According to the affidavit, the state government has now made compensatory afforestation a part of its official “government resolution.”
After reviewing this, the Supreme Court allowed BMC to cut the required number of trees for the project. The CJI said,
“We direct that the averments made in the said affidavit be given effect to scrupulously.”
The court also issued a strict warning. It said that any officer responsible for carrying out compensatory afforestation will face stern action if found careless or negligent.
The bench directed officials to visit and inspect the plantation sites inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park where afforestation is supposed to take place.
Additionally, the bench ordered the BMC and other concerned authorities to carry out compensatory afforestation for other major projects, including Mumbai Metro, with proper seriousness.
They were asked to file a detailed status report within 12 weeks. The bench also clarified that compensatory afforestation can even begin before the trees are cut.
The case before the Supreme Court was based on BMC’s plea requesting permission to cut more trees for the GMLR.
The project aims to create faster road connectivity between the Western Express Highway and the Eastern Express Highway, reducing travel time between Goregaon and Mulund by nearly an hour.
BMC moved the Supreme Court because of an earlier order dated January 10, in which the court had directed the Tree Authority not to allow any further tree cutting in Aarey Colony without the Supreme Court’s approval.
This earlier order was related to the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) car shed issue. The apex court had also asked the Maharashtra government to confirm if any new proposals existed for cutting trees in Aarey forest.
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In 2023, the Supreme Court had granted forest-dwelling communities the liberty to approach the Bombay High Court regarding their concerns about tree felling in Aarey for the metro project.
With the latest order, the Supreme Court has made it clear that development projects may proceed, but only if compensatory plantation commitments are fulfilled strictly and honestly.
The warning to officers and insistence on inspections reflects the court’s firm stand that environmental safeguards cannot be ignored.
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