NGT Raps Bhopal Civic Body Over Illegal Tree Felling in Kolar Road Project

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Central Zone Bench in Bhopal, has strongly criticised the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) for violating environmental regulations and disregarding court directives during road construction activities in the Kolar area, which involved large-scale illegal tree cutting.

The case, brought forward by petitioner Nitin Saxena, alleges that 4,105 trees were felled without adhering to the mandatory compensatory afforestation provisions under the Madhya Pradesh Tree Preservation (Urban Areas) Act, 2001.

Despite the Public Works Department (PWD) depositing ₹10.94 crore to secure permission for tree cutting, the BMC reportedly delayed granting approval for over 30 days, raising serious questions about procedural integrity. The NGT termed this conduct “unacceptable” and further reprimanded the civic body for failing to respond to the main petition for over 18 months, even after receiving repeated notices from the Tribunal.

Tribunal Orders Data Disclosure Within Two Weeks

In a significant move, the NGT has directed the BMC to furnish detailed data within two weeks. This includes:

• The total number of trees cut in the past five years

• Funds collected and used for compensatory afforestation

• The number of trees actually planted using these funds

• The current number of live trees planted under afforestation efforts, along with survival rates

The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for 12 November, and the Tribunal has indicated it expects full compliance from the civic authorities by that date.

Environmentalists Applaud Tribunal’s Tough Stance

The NGT’s strong stance has been welcomed by environmentalists and civil society groups, who argue that urban infrastructure projects in Bhopal are increasingly ignoring environmental safeguards.

“This is not just about trees — it’s about enforcing the law and maintaining ecological balance in our cities,” said a local environmental advocate. “Tree cutting for development is often done in haste, but compensatory measures either never happen or are poorly executed.”

Many have called for real-time monitoring mechanisms and greater transparency in tree-felling permissions and afforestation programs to ensure that green cover loss is genuinely offset.

The case is being closely watched as a test of both judicial intervention in environmental governance and the accountability of municipal bodies in following the law.