HC asks NHAI to follow SC’s order on felling trees

In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), Ananda Murugan of Virudhunagar, stated that as many as 1.78 lakh trees were felled by the NHAI for laying four-lane roads of 2,369 kilometres from Kanniyakumari to Varanasi under NH -7 project.

In 2015, The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had announced that Rs 1,000 crore would be set aside for plantation of trees alongside roads. As it was not properly implemented and the NHAI did not replace trees that were felled, the petitioner sought the bench to direct the authority to plant trees and also to maintain it. Meanwhile, the counsel for NHAI said an agreement was made with the Forest Department to plant country species.

A Division Bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice P Rajamanickam, after hearing, said if one tree was felled, ten trees must be planted as compensation as per Supreme Court’s directive. Citing these, the bench directed the NHAI Directors in Chennai and Madurai to file counter affidavit and adjourned the case to November 5.