Supreme Court Grants Permission for Felling of Trees for Krishna Govardhan Road project

The Supreme Court on Thursday granted permission for the felling of 1803 trees for the Mathura-Deengh Govardhan Project in strict compliance with conditions that had been recommended by CEC. 

The bench of Justices LN Rao, BR Gavai and BV Nagarathna were hearing an application filed by the Public Works Dept, State of Uttar Pradesh for cutting down of thousands of trees for the Mathura-Deeng Govardhan Road project in the Taj Trapezium Zone area. 

On December 2, 2020 the Top Court on Advocate ADN Rao's submission that there was a system for evaluation called Net Present Value (NPV) had asked the State to look at the NPV mode of evaluation also.  The Court was also appraised on a Committee that had been appointed to give its recommendations to develop scientific and policy guidelines to govern the felling of trees for developmental projects.  It had granted the State 4 weeks time for the State to inform the Court about the project it intended to adopt and had also asked it to consider the reduction in the number of trees proposed to be fell for the stated purposes of building roads etc.

On Thursday, while the report of the Committee on these recommendations was pending, the State of UP informed the court that the number of trees that were to be cut had been reduced from 2940 to 1803. The Court was also informed that CEC had recommended acceptance of the proposal made by the State of Uttar Pradesh subject to certain conditions: 

• Clearance under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 shall be obtained. 
• The felling of trees along the Mathura-Deeng Road to Rajasthan shall be kept to minimum.
• Compensatory plantation of minimum 30,000 trees of indigenous species in lieu of trees being felled.
• Permission for felling of trees will be granted by the State Forest Department only after taking clearance under FC, Act 1980 and the funds required for compensatory afforestation are deposited with the Forest Department; 
• Handing over of Compensatory Afforestation Land to Forest Department of Uttar Pradesh. 

Taking into consideration these conditions of CEC, the Court granted permission for felling of 1803 trees for the purpose of widening of Mathura-Deeng (Gobardhan) Road [Four lanes Road] in strict compliance of the conditions that are recommended by the CEC.

Additionally, the Court directed that payment for the trees felled shall be determined after a report is submitted by the Committee appointed by this court on 25.03.2021, subject to final acceptance of the Court. 

The Court has directed the Committee to submit its report within 4 weeks. 

Case Title: MC Mehta v Union of India| WP 13381 / 1984

Read/Download the Order here