The Supreme Court on Monday permitted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to proceed with its request to fell more trees for the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project, but only on the condition that compensatory afforestation is carried out “scrupulously” as per a government resolution.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, and comprising Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria, took note of the affidavit filed by the Maharashtra Chief Secretary assuring that compensatory afforestation has been made an integral part of the project through an official government resolution. “We direct that the averments made in the said affidavit be given effect to scrupulously,” the bench observed.
The development comes in continuation of the apex court’s earlier interventions. On July 29, the Court had permitted the felling of 95 trees in Film City, Mumbai, for the GMLR. However, on October 27, the Court sharply criticised the Maharashtra government for its lax implementation of compensatory afforestation across past infrastructure projects, including the Mumbai Metro and GMLR, and warned it may revoke all prior permissions for tree felling if no remedial steps were taken.
In response, the Court had directed the Chief Secretary to hold consultations with all stakeholders and submit a “concrete proposal” outlining steps for ensuring meaningful afforestation efforts.
Emphasising the seriousness of compliance, the Court on Monday warned that any officer found negligent or lax in undertaking compensatory afforestation will face strict action. The bench specifically directed officials to inspect the proposed afforestation sites within Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai.
It also clarified that tree felling could only proceed if compensatory afforestation is carried out earnestly, and that in some cases, afforestation could even be completed before trees are cut.
The bench extended its directive beyond the GMLR project, instructing the BMC and other authorities to apply the same diligence to compensatory afforestation in connection with other infrastructure projects, including the Mumbai Metro. Authorities were asked to file a detailed compliance report within 12 weeks.
The BMC’s present plea was filed in light of the Supreme Court’s January 10 order restricting the Tree Authority from permitting any tree cutting in Aarey colony without the Court’s prior nod. That earlier direction came in the context of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) car shed project.
The apex court also reiterated that the Maharashtra government must clarify if it proposes to fell more trees in the Aarey forest region. In a previous development, the Court had allowed certain forest-dwelling communities to move the Bombay High Court regarding the felling of trees for the metro project.
The GMLR is a major road infrastructure initiative by the BMC aimed at connecting the Western Express Highway and Eastern Express Highway to ease east-west commute across Mumbai. Once completed, it is expected to reduce travel time between Goregaon and Mulund by nearly an hour.
The Court’s green light for tree felling — tethered to stringent afforestation safeguards — marks a crucial juncture for the progress of the GMLR project while keeping environmental concerns under close judicial scrutiny.
