SC sets up 7-member committee to formulate guidelines on cutting trees for developmental projects

The Supreme Court has set up a seven-member committee to develop policy guidelines for decision-making regarding cutting of trees for developmental projects

With several development projects planned in the country that require the cutting of trees with ‘historical significance’, the Supreme Court has now set up a seven-member committee to develop scientific and policy guidelines in this regard. The guidelines will aid in the decision-making when it comes to cutting of trees for developmental projects. The bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, Justice AS Bopanna and Justice V Ramasubramanian issued the order following a public interest litigation (PIL). The PIL challenged a proposal to cut more than 300 trees for the construction of road over bridges and road expansion in West Bengal. ALSO READ: Goa's Green WarsThe court observed that it is "imperative to make a realistic assessment of the economic value of a tree, which may be permitted to fell, with reference to its value to environment and its longevity, with regard to factors such as production of oxygen and carbon sequestration.”