Coming down heavily on the Maharashtra government for its 'gross negligence' in carrying out compensatory afforestation in Mumbai, the Supreme Court on Monday warned that all prior permissions for felling trees for infrastructure projects such as the Mumbai Metro and the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) could be revoked if immediate corrective steps are not taken.
A bench led by chief justice (CJI) Bhushan R Gavai and justice K Vinod Chandran expressed strong displeasure after a report revealed that only about 50% of the 20,460 saplings planted under compensatory afforestation and corporate social responsibility (CSR) schemes for the Mumbai Metro project had survived. The report, prepared by the conservator of forests and director of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), pointed to irregular growth, poor maintenance and inadequate protection of the plantation sites.
“If this is your conduct and your concern for the environment, we will recall all permissions that we have granted,” the CJI warned, adding that the state’s approach showed a 'complete lack of sincerity' in implementing the Court’s directions.
The bench directed Maharashtra's chief secretary to hold a meeting with all stakeholders, including the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) and file an affidavit by 10th November outlining concrete measures to ensure effective implementation of compensatory afforestation in both letter and spirit.
“Unless we are satisfied with the plan, we will not allow any more projects requiring forest clearance,” the bench cautioned, making it clear that future violations could lead to personal accountability of senior officials.
The observations came during the hearing of a plea by the tree authority of the BMC which had sought the apex court’s permission to fell 1,134 trees for the GMLR project connecting Film City in Goregaon with Khindipada in Mulund. The project aims to reduce travel time between Mumbai’s eastern and western suburbs through twin tunnels stretching over 6.2km.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the tree authority, submitted that around 632 trees were proposed to be transplanted while 407 would be permanently cut. He says the felling was necessary for tunnelling and operating boring machines. However, the Court refused to allow any further felling until the state demonstrates compliance with its afforestation obligations.
The SC’s strong remarks followed a damning report by forest officials who inspected the sites of compensatory afforestation undertaken by MMRCL in the Aarey forest area. The inspection, conducted in September, revealed that while records showed over 20,000 saplings had been planted, half had died due to poor soil quality, lack of watering, grazing by animals and damaged fencing. The surviving trees, mostly between one and two feet tall, showed 'stunted and irregular growth'.
At one of the plantation sites, Ramgad, the inspection team found that, although records reflected plantation work, no visible trees could be located on the ground. The report further noted that irrigation systems were in disrepair, with only a single functioning pipeline powered by a solar pump. “The chain-link fencing has partially collapsed or deteriorated at several points, exposing the plantation to grazing and encroachment risks,” the report says, recommending stronger protection and consistent maintenance for long-term sustainability.
The bench described the findings as 'gross' and says it would not hesitate to withdraw previous orders permitting tree felling for Mumbai’s infrastructure projects if the situation persisted. “We had allowed tree felling keeping in mind the principle of sustainable development — public interest through infrastructure but minimal harm to the environment. Your conduct shows otherwise. Is this how afforestation plans are implemented?” CJI Gavai remarked.
The MMRCL, represented by senior advocate Maninder Singh, admitted that the afforestation norms had not been met 'to some extent', but the court dismissed this as an understatement.
“It is not some, it is gross,” the CJI retorted. The bench also directed the chief secretary to prepare comprehensive guidelines for future compensatory afforestation projects, emphasising accountability and periodic monitoring.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing civil society petitioners, says compensatory afforestation had become a 'sham exercise', pointing to instances where one-foot saplings were planted and left uncared for. He also referred to a 2023 IIT-Bombay report recommending that MMRCL plant an additional 3,500 saplings to replace those that failed to survive.
The Court observed that the choice of barren and rocky sites for plantations demonstrated a lack of planning and seriousness. “You choose a site which is not suitable for plantation. Is this the sincerity with which you are dealing with the court’s orders?” the bench asked.
The Supreme Court has been monitoring the protection of Mumbai’s Aarey forest since 2019 when it took suo motu cognisance of large-scale tree felling for the Mumbai Metro car shed project. In its 10 January 2025 order, the Court barred the BMC’s tree authority from approving any further tree felling in Aarey without its prior permission.
On 14th August this year, the Court had allowed the BMC to fell 95 trees for the GMLR tunnel project, on the condition that 1,344 new trees would be planted as compensatory afforestation. The latest application by the BMC to cut an additional 1,039 trees was filed in light of the court’s earlier directions but has now been kept pending until the state satisfies the bench about its action plan.
During Monday’s hearing, the CJI reiterated that the court’s concern was not to stall development but to ensure responsible growth. “Development of infrastructure is necessary, but it must go hand in hand with environmental protection. A balance must be maintained between the progress of the country and the preservation of its ecology,” he observed.
The Court reminded the state that it had earlier directed geo-tagging of trees and systematic documentation under the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975, but compliance remained poor. The bench says that future approvals for projects like the Metro and GMLR would depend on the state’s demonstrable adherence to afforestation commitments.
As the matter was adjourned to 11 November 2025, the Court left no ambiguity about the consequences of continued neglect. “If this court has granted permission for felling of trees, it was done in the larger public interest of sustainable development,” the order says. “However, the state and its authorities have not attended to the same with the sincerity it required. We will recall all permissions granted so far for projects like the Mumbai Metro rail if necessary.”
With this stern warning, the Supreme Court signalled that Maharashtra’s infrastructure ambitions cannot come at the cost of Mumbai’s green cover — reaffirming the principle that development and environmental conservation must coexist, not collide.
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