HC allows tree felling at govt hosp to pave way for new buildings

The government submitted that there were 56 trees in the hospital campus, of which 22 were very old and no assurance can be given that these trees would survive on being replanted. Also, 15 trees were withered, the State said, adding that the remaining trees would be uprooted and replanted in another area. Recording the submission, a division bench comprising Justice Vineet Kothari and Justice R Suresh Kumar allowed the felling of trees, adding that the court did not want to be a barrier in the development of the hospital. “But it is pertinent that the 500 saplings that have been planned to be planted and the trees that were being shifted after being uprooted are maintained well and that they bloom into full-grown trees,” the bench said.

The bench also insisted that the government filed a report every three months about the status of the saplings and replanted trees, and posted the case to April next year to enable the government to file its report. The petitioner, Capt P B Narayanan, an ex-serviceman, had submitted that the 75 full grown trees with wide canopy served as a habitat for birds, including black kites, parakeets, mongoose and other animals. But unmindful of that, the authorities had embarked on removing the trees in a patch of four acres for the construction of additional buildings, he alleged.

He had also submitted that the city had lost a substantial number of trees during cyclone Vardah and whatever left must be protected.