The Supreme Court of India has issued a directive to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s tree authority, stating that no further tree felling in Mumbai’s Aarey colony is to occur without explicit permission from the court. This decision came after the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) informed Justices Abhay S Oka and Aravind Kumar that there were currently no pending proposals to cut additional trees in the area.
The top court has scheduled the next hearing for this matter on March 5. The recent order reinforces previous court directives aimed at regulating the removal of trees in the Aarey forest, a contentious issue given its environmental implications and the urban development pressures of Mumbai.
The Supreme Court’s involvement in the Aarey tree felling issue dates back to 2019 when it took suo motu cognizance of a letter petition by law student Rishav Ranjan, who sought a stay against the cutting of trees in the colony. Subsequently, in November 2022, the court had allowed Mumbai Metro to approach the local tree authority with a request to fell 84 specific trees necessary for a metro car shed project, with strict conditions to avoid any excess removal.
On April 17, 2023, the Supreme Court penalized the Mumbai Metro with a Rs 10 lakh fine for attempting to “overreach” its order by seeking approval for the felling of more than the permitted number of trees. Despite the penalty, the court had to balance environmental concerns with development needs and allowed the removal of 177 trees, underscoring that a complete halt on the project was not desirable due to its public utility.
Throughout this judicial oversight, the court has remained vigilant against unauthorized tree felling, upholding its commitment to ensure any tree cutting is conducted legally and minimally. The recent directive not only continues to protect the Aarey forest but also holds governmental and corporate entities accountable to environmental standards, reflecting ongoing legal and public scrutiny over urban development practices that impact green spaces.
