As We Are Busy Cutting Trees To Make Roads, SC Asks Why Can't Road Take A Turn Around A Tree?

Trees are one of the first and biggest casualties of any infrastructure project like roads, railways, buildings, or any other.

Every year thousands of trees are cut to make way for 'development', be it in Mumbai's Aarey forest, in Delhi, Bengaluru, Goa and Uttarakhand.

BCCL

These mega infrastructure projects are being constructed against the opposition from environmentalists and at the cost of nature.

But in what could be some good news for the fight to save the environment, the Chief Justice of India on Wednesday asked 'Why can't the road take a turn around the tree?

BCCL

The observation was made by CJI SA Bobde while hearing an application filed by UP Government for cutting trees for the Krishna Goverdhan road project in Mathura.

The Public Works Department of Uttar Pradesh Government and the UP Bridge Corporation had filed an application before the Top Court for felling 2,940 trees for the project.

'You can't fell thousands of trees...in the name of Krishna,' the CJI observed orally.

BCCL

The court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to evaluate the value of trees, proposed for felling for the Krishna Goverdhan road project in Mathura, by taking into account the cost of oxygen the trees would have given to nature in their lifetime.

The bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, asked the Uttar Pradesh government the nature and number of thousands of trees proposed to be felled and to evaluate their age and oxygen-producing capacity.

BCCL/FILE

Valid questions asked

The bench, seeking a report on the matter within two weeks, observed that straight roads capable of high-speed traffic on highways cause innumerable deaths. The apex court asked the state if roads can be made in a 'zig-zag' fashion to save trees and save lives in the process.

The bench was hearing an application filed by the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department (UP PWD) for cutting down thousands of trees for the road project, for which the Central Empowered Committee has already given clearance.

"It is clear that only effect if the trees are retained would be roads may not be straight and therefore capable of high-speed traffic. Such an effect may not be necessarily deleterious," the bench observed.

BCCL

In its order, the bench also noted that UP PWD assured that they will compensate by planting the same trees in another area so that there is no loss to the environment in general.

CJI Bobde said it not possible for the court to accept compensation in merely arithmetical terms, especially when there is no statement forthcoming from Uttar Pradesh or the PWD as to the nature of trees, which is classified as shrubs or large trees.

"Moreover, there is no information available regarding the age of the trees since it is obvious that there cannot be compensatory reforestation if a 100-year-old tree is cut down," the bench said.

"Living trees cannot be evaluated simply on the basis of timber value. Living trees give oxygen. That should be considered in valuation. Oxygen producing capacity of the tree must be evaluated over its remaining life span," CJI said.