November 18, 2025: The Maharashtra government has issued 14 stringent directives to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after the Supreme Court questioned the status and effectiveness of compensatory afforestation linked to development projects. The new guidelines are aimed at ensuring that trees planted instead of those cut for public infrastructure works are adequately protected, monitored, and sustained over the long term.
The directives follow a recent SC hearing on a BMC plea seeking permission to cut trees for infrastructure expansion. The court asked for clarity on compensatory plantations carried out in previous years and stressed the need for improved oversight. In response, the Revenue & Forest Department (R&FD) has introduced a comprehensive framework to strengthen afforestation practices across Mumbai and the wider metropolitan region.
A key requirement is the use of native tree species suited to local climatic conditions, ensuring higher survival rates. The government has also asked the civic body to create a dedicated land bank for compensatory plantations, which may include biodiversity parks and recreational green zones. Plantations cannot be established within protected forests or national parks, and the BMC has been made solely accountable for the survival and maintenance of all afforested areas.
Given limited land availability within the city, the guidelines direct authorities to identify suitable plantation sites across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Trees must be at least 12 feet tall at the time of planting and maintained for a minimum of seven years. To enhance transparency, the BMC must upload GPS-tagged plantation data on its website and provide updates every six months.
The state has also proposed an oversight committee led by the Regional Forest Officer, involving experts and NGOs, to review progress. Another directive mandates 8-foot fencing, CCTV surveillance, and tree guards at plantation sites. Areas larger than one hectare should be declared protected forests or designated as no-development green belts, ensuring long-term conservation.
Source: The Free Press Journal
