The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has instructed the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) to provide comprehensive details on trees transplanted for infrastructure projects in the city, including data on their survival rates. The tribunal observed that the civic body’s earlier affidavit did not sufficiently address its directions.
The order was issued during the hearing of an application initiated following a March 2024 news report that highlighted the alleged felling of nearly 21,000 trees in Mumbai.
Affidavit Deemed Inadequate
During proceedings, the bench took note of MCGM’s reply affidavit dated December 10, 2025, which included year-wise and ward-wise figures of trees planted along with corresponding survival percentages. The civic body also contested the accuracy of the media report. However, the tribunal pointed out that its earlier directive dated June 18, 2025, had specifically required disclosure of the number of trees transplanted and the number that survived.
“We do not find this affidavit to be adequate,” the tribunal recorded, stating that the necessary information regarding transplanted trees and their survival had not been furnished.
Representation and Next Steps
Advocates representing the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), MCGM, and the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (MMRCL) were present during the hearing. The Maharashtra Forest Department was not represented, although the tribunal clarified that it did not consider the department a necessary party to the proceedings.
The bench further observed that no response had been received to its earlier query dated September 25, 2025, regarding whether the matter should continue before the tribunal in light of related proceedings pending before the Supreme Court of India. The issue is to be clarified at the next hearing.
The matter has been scheduled for further consideration on April 15, 2026.
Source: The Free Press Journal
