Gradation of trees important to protect those which benefit from environment: SC to form expert panel

The Supreme Court on Thursday indicated to form an experts panel to lay down guidelines for cutting of trees for various projects, saying gradation of trees is important to protect those which benefit the environment.

The court said it is essential to develop a policy focusing on the gradation of trees to formulate category of trees which can be cut down and which required protection throughout its lifespan. "We want to lay some guidelines a kind of cognitive pathway so that thinking takes place along those lines. The cost of the project to include, the value of the tree or its contribution to the environment. Trees of a certain type and certain age shall never be cut down," a bench presided over by Chief Justice S A Bobde said.

The bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, said felling trees for developmental projects was a serious environmental issue. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), cited two verdicts of the top court emphasising appointment of an independent environmental regulator.

“We want to ask an expert, which trees are most beneficial to the environment, the one’s having ability to bind the soil," the bench said. The bench said the court is keen to have more information from an expert on certain species of trees and the age it reaches. The bench asked the Centre’s counsel and other parties in the matter to suggest some expert for this task.

The court was hearing a plea, related to felling of 356 trees, which includes several heritage trees, for construction of five railway over bridges on NH 35 in West Bengal. During the hearing, the court said the government has to explore other possibilities before coming to the conclusion of cutting trees.