Order of the Supreme Court of India regarding felling of 4102 trees for a railway track, Uttar Pradesh, 29/01/2021
Order of the Supreme Court of India in the M.C. Mehta Vs Union of India dated 29/01/2021.
The Rail Vikas Nigam Limited has applied for permission to construct a 3rd rail line between Mathura Junction to Jhansi. The proposed rail line is of about 274 km, out of which a stretch of 80 km goes to TTZ (Taj Trapezium Zone) area. According to the Rail Vikas Nigam, 4102 trees needed to be cut for the project. It was submitted that laying of this line was necessary because the present track between Delhi to Mathura-Jhansi was totally choked and resulted in hours long delay.
The SC directed that 4102 could be cut and removed by the Rail Vikas for laying the railway track subject to certain conditions suggested by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC).