[Felling Of Trees]The Green Cover Has To Be Valued And Protected, Observes CJI
"Deforestation is happening at such a pace that before we know it, everything will be lost! The Green cover has to be valued and protected!", noted Chief Justice S. A. Bobde on Tuesday. The Supreme Court was considering the matter of the felling of trees for the construction of a foot-over bridge to ensure safety around a railway line in West Bengal. 'Nobody wants to consider an...
"Deforestation is happening at such a pace that before we know it, everything will be lost! The Green cover has to be valued and protected!", noted Chief Justice S. A. Bobde on Tuesday.
The Supreme Court was considering the matter of the felling of trees for the construction of a foot-over bridge to ensure safety around a railway line in West Bengal.
'Nobody wants to consider an alternative way. A route may well be created even without felling trees. It could a little expensive but it would go a long way in preserving the property', the CJ observed.
"We know you don't have the brains to develop new means of water conservation. But why are you destroying the existing ones?", he demanded.
"We have so many such cases before us- Mumbai's metro car shed, coastal road...can we lay down some guidelines? Please give us suggestions...how is the valuation to be carried out in such instances?", asked the judge.
"Scientists are saying that on account of such deforestation, the climate will change for the very worse over the next 50 years!", concurred Advocate Prashant Bhushan for the petitioner-organization.
"Believable...it is very believable", lamented the CJ.
The bench then proceeded to list the matter at a later date, anticipating the report of the court-appointed committee on how the requisite development can be carried out sustainably.