The Supreme Court on Thursday permitted the felling of 95 trees in Mumbai’s Film City for the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project, subject to compensatory afforestation, reported news agency PTI.
A bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing a plea by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), seeking permission to axe the trees for the first phase of development of the GMLR project.
Senior advocate Dhruv Mehta informed the bench that the BMC’s Tree Authority had granted its approval, subject to the court’s nod, PTI reported.
Chief Justice Gavai, meanwhile, directed the forest conservator of Mumbai to file a detailed report within six weeks outlining the compensatory afforestation undertaken in the city so far.
The Mumbai civic body assured the bench that it would follow all rules related to compensatory afforestation, including geo-tagging of saplings to be planted in lieu of the felled trees, reported PTI.
On July 29, the top court had stressed the need to maintain a balance between environmental protection and development, allowing the tree authority to decide on for felling 95 trees for the project.
The GMLR project aims to improve road connectivity from the Western Express Highway to the Eastern Express Highway, potentially reducing travel time by nearly an hour between Mulund and Goregaon.
According to the BMC, the 95 trees had to be cut to operate tunnel boring machines and for launching shaft work for tunnelling.
The BMC filed the plea following the apex court’s January 10 order, which had directed the tree authority not to allow any further tree felling in without its permission. The civic body clarified that the area for the proposed felling falls under Film City and not Aarey Colony, but the plea was filed in the Supreme Court as a matter of caution.
“No doubt, the protection of the environment is important and it has been held by this court in several judgements keeping in mind the principle of inter-generational equity,” the CJI said.
However, he noted that development could not be ignored. “The development of infrastructure is also necessary. Unless proper infrastructure is put in place, the country cannot progress,” he added.
The bench asked the BMC to submit the report of experts on the issue along with the afforestation plan and clarified that no tree could be felled without its prior approval.
The trees are required for 6.2-km twin tunnels, which form part of the GMLR connecting Film City, Goregaon, and Khindipada (Amar Nagar), Mulund.
The Supreme Court’s previous order restricting tree felling in Aarey Colony had been in connection with the car shed project of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited.