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Supreme Court Asks Punjab Government for Compensatory Afforestation Proposal
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News18•08-10-2026, 12:45
Supreme Court Asks Punjab Government for Compensatory Afforestation Proposal
- •The Supreme Court directed the Punjab government to submit a proposal for providing adequate land for compensatory afforestation for road construction projects.
- •A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant expressed concern over the shrinking forest cover and lack of implementation of afforestation plans in Punjab.
- •Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that a high court order restraining tree felling has stalled vital public and strategic road projects of the NHAI.
- •The high court had previously noted that Punjab's forest cover stands at a meager 3.67 percent, prompting a stay on tree felling for development activities.
Key Questions Answered
The Supreme Court directed the Punjab government to submit a proposal for providing adequate land for compensatory afforestation in areas where land is required by the NHAI for road construction.
The high court stayed the felling of trees due to concerns over depleting forest cover in Punjab, noting that forest cover stands at only 3.67 percent of the geographical area.
The high court passed its order while hearing a PIL against the felling of nearly 5,000 trees for the NHAI's Zirakpur bypass project connecting Punjab to the Chandigarh-Shimla highway.