Supreme Court asks Punjab to identify land for compensatory afforestation amid NHAI roadwork

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Punjab government to submit a proposal identifying adequate land for compensatory afforestation in areas where trees may need to be felled for National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) road projects.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, expressed concern over Punjab’s declining forest cover and the implementation of compensatory afforestation measures.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the NHAI, told the court that a continuing restraint imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on tree felling was affecting road construction. He argued that compensatory afforestation is a statutory requirement and that some roads are necessary for strategic purposes because Punjab is a border state.

The bench asked whether land for compensatory afforestation was being identified within five kilometres of areas where trees are felled. Mehta said this was not always possible, though plantation was being undertaken elsewhere.

The Supreme Court directed the NHAI to serve its petition on the Punjab government and sought the state’s response.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had in December 2025 raised concerns over the state’s forest cover, which it noted was 3.67 per cent of its geographical area, and restricted tree felling in connection with projects. The proceedings arose from a PIL concerning the proposed felling of nearly 5,000 trees for the NHAI’s Zirakpur bypass project.

with inputs from PTI