SC nod to fell 95 trees in Aarey Colony for GMLR tunnel work

Apex court says the trees can be felled only after it examines the compensatory afforestation plan

- Abraham Thomas

The Supreme Court ‘on Tuesday said that proper infrastructure is key to the country's progress and development projects cannot be stalled over environmental concerns as it allowed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to fell 95 trees towards construction of the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR).

The said trees are adjacent to the Aarey Colony forest, which serves as the green lung of Mumbai, and the apex court had passed several orders protecting it. On Tuesday, the bench of Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai and justice K Vinod Chandran said the trees can be felled only after it has examined the compensatory afforestation plan and the report by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay on the need for felling trees.