Supreme Court: Kolkata Metro Requires CEC Approval for Any Further Tree Felling

The Bench previously raised concerns about the extensive tree felling in Kolkata, attributing it to inefficiencies in the project's planning and execution.

Additionally, the Supreme Court remarked that the metro system should have been introduced in India much earlier, as the delay has resulted in significant deforestation.

The petitioners previously informed the Court that while they were not against the metro project, they raised concerns over the planned removal of approximately 940 trees. They highlighted that the justification provided was for transplantation, but noted that the trees were being relocated significantly away from their original location.

Conversely, the counsel for the State of West Bengal argued that the trees would be transplanted along the metro line, within the city limits. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Kolkata Metro, emphasized that the trees were being transplanted, not entirely removed.

He referenced the successful transplantation of a four-year-old peepal tree at his residence as evidence of the effectiveness of the method.

Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta, along with advocates Siddhartha Sinha, Riddhi Bose, Racheeta Chawla, Rishi Agarwal, Sampriti Baksi, Siddharth Banerjee, Nring Chamwibo Zeliang, Priya Nisha Minz, and Jyoti Fartiyal, represented PUBLIC.

The respondents were represented by advocates Saurabh Misra, Shrimay Misra, and Rakesh Chander.