May continue with Joka Metro work but do not cut or transplant any tree: Apex court
Times of India | 14 September 2024
Kolkata: The Supreme Court on Friday directed that no trees would be felled or transplanted on the Maidan for the ongoing Metro Rail project. The court has, however, allowed Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) to continue work without felling any more trees.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan issued notices to the West Bengal govt, RVNL and others seeking their responses on a plea challenging the June 20 verdict of the Calcutta High Court that had allowed transplantation/felling of trees dismissed a PIL by People United For Better Living in Kolkata (PUBLIC) that had sought to stop the construction of metro stations of the Joka-Esplanade line at Victoria and Park Street, citing environment concerns and the irreparable damage that the felling of trees would cause to the Maidan that is considered the city’s lung.
“You can continue with the work but don’t fell trees,” the bench told the counsel appearing for RVNL. The court has also asked the agency to show how it intends to transplant/fell nearly 950 trees for the project.
Jaideep Gupta, the senior advocate appearing for petitioner PUBLIC, told the bench that the route chosen for the metro project passes through the Maidan and a number of trees would be felled or transplanted for it. The counsel also pointed out that RVNL had not submitted any plan for survival of transplanted trees or compensatory planting.
The 16.7-km Joka-Esplanade line will have a 5.05-km underground stretch from Kidderpore to Esplanade. A bulk of this section passes under the Maidan. While tunnel-boring machines will be used, the three stations — Victoria, Park Street and Esplanade — have to be constructed using a cut-and-cover method. Also, the stretch between Park Street and Esplanade that has an urban forest has to be cleared to construct a crossover.