Overview
- The bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai allowed Mumbai’s Tree Authority to consider a new BMC request tied to the GMLR, ordering strict compliance with compensatory afforestation and a progress report in 12 weeks.
- Judges directed inspections of proposed plantation sites, including within Sanjay Gandhi National Park where applicable, and said compensatory planting may be done before any trees are felled.
- The court warned officers they will face stern action for laxity, reinforcing that permissions rest on actual implementation, not paperwork.
- The state’s November 16 policy mandates native species, 12‑foot saplings, seven‑year survival with replacements, biannual GPS‑tagged public updates, and oversight by a committee led by social forestry officials with an NGO representative.
- A set of 14 directives requires a dedicated land bank, use of suitable MMR sites with consent, 8‑foot fencing, CCTV and tree guards, a ring‑fenced fund, and legal protections for larger plantations, reflecting failures highlighted by poor survival at Aarey.