“Plant three trees before you cut one,” observed the Bombay high court on Wednesday, even as it ordered a blanket stay on cutting of trees on National Highway-III (Mumbai-Agra) near Nashik road.
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had sought permission to cut 5,246 trees on the highway, which were “obstructing” a road-widening project, given to a consortium of L&T and Ashoka Buildcon.
“You first notify a site to plant 15,000 trees, and then come to us to seek permission to cut 5,000-odd trees,” said justice Patel.
“People should be aware of global warming and the
consequences of tree cutting. You cannot live or survive without trees. So, be a tree lover,” remarked Patel.
In an affidavit, NHAI official Sreeram Mishra, who is heading the project, told the court that if the tree-cutting was not allowed, the traffic situation in Nashik may go “out of control”. The affidavit said that so far, the NHAI has planted about 4,000 trees.
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