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Today(13th Sept), The Supreme Court halted tree felling and transplanting in Kolkata’s Maidan area for the metro rail project due to environmental concerns. Notices were issued to the West Bengal government and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) while reviewing a petition against a Calcutta High Court ruling.
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NEW DELHI: Today(13th Sept), the Supreme Court directed that no trees would be felled or transplanted in Kolkata’s Maidan area, which adjoins the iconic Victoria Memorial, as part of the metro rail project. The court’s interim order comes in response to growing concerns about environmental degradation caused by the felling of a large number of trees in the heart of Kolkata.
A bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan, while hearing a petition challenging a previous ruling by the Calcutta High Court, issued notices to the West Bengal government and the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), seeking their responses. The court’s decision is a temporary relief for environmental activists who had raised alarms about the adverse effects of tree cutting on Kolkata’s ecosystem.
The controversy surrounding tree felling in the Maidan area began when RVNL initiated the construction of a metro rail line from Mominpur to Dharmatala, a project that necessitated the removal of numerous trees.
A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Calcutta High Court to halt this activity, citing concerns over the ecological impact. However, on June 20, 2023, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court, comprising Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmoy Bhattacharya, dismissed the PIL.
The petitioner, an organization named “People United for Better Living in Calcutta,” argued that the Maidan area, often referred to as the “lungs of the city,” would suffer severe environmental consequences if around 700 trees were cut down for the metro rail project. According to the petitioners, “The city’s temperature is now the highest since 1950,” indicating a dire need to preserve greenery and reduce urban heat.
Despite these arguments, the Calcutta High Court ruled in favor of RVNL, stating that while trees might be cut, they would be replanted. The court emphasized that RVNL had obtained the necessary permissions from competent authorities before commencing the project. However, the petitioners contended that this information was not adequately presented in court.
Dissatisfied with the High Court’s decision, the petitioners appealed to the Supreme Court for a reversal of the verdict. During Friday’s hearing, the Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice B R Gavai, raised concerns about the project’s environmental impact.
“Until the next hearing, we direct that no new trees be cut down or transplanted,”
-the bench announced, providing temporary relief to environmental advocates.
Justice Gavai, addressing RVNL’s counsel, stated-
“You can continue with the work but don’t fell trees from today.”
The bench further clarified-
“The case will be heard again after three weeks. Until then no trees can be cut or planted.”
This directive ensures that no further damage is done to the green cover in the Maidan area, at least until the court reconvenes to review the matter.
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The Maidan area, stretching over a large part of central Kolkata, is widely regarded as a crucial green space, acting as a carbon sink and helping regulate the city’s climate. Environmentalists have warned that felling trees in such a vital area could significantly harm Kolkata’s already fragile environment.
According to experts-
“Maidan area is the lung of the city. If so many trees are cut there, the environment will be damaged.”
This concern is not just about aesthetics or urban planning but about the long-term health and livability of the city. The Maidan’s greenery plays an essential role in mitigating the effects of urban heat islands, a phenomenon where built-up areas experience higher temperatures than their rural counterparts due to human activity and infrastructure.
The petitioners have consistently argued that cutting down trees in the Maidan area would lead to irreversible damage.
“The city’s temperature is now the highest since 1950,”
-they claimed in their submission to the court, underlining the need for immediate action to preserve Kolkata’s remaining green spaces. This is not the first time the matter has reached the courts.
In October 2023, a bench comprising Justices Moushumi Bhattacharya and Vivasaranjan Dey had issued an interim order to halt the felling of trees in the vicinity of the Metro construction site. This moratorium was extended in November 2023. However, in June 2023, the High Court dismissed the public interest litigation, allowing the metro construction to continue despite the environmental concerns.
The petitioners, however, maintain that the authorities have not been transparent about the project’s full impact. They argue that while the construction company has assured the replanting of trees, the sheer scale of the felling in the Maidan area could cause long-lasting environmental harm.