SC directs Punjab to submit land plan for afforestation amid road projects

The Supreme Court has asked Punjab to propose adequate land for compensatory afforestation linked to NHAI road works. The bench asked whether land for compensatory afforestation was being allocated within five km of the area where trees were being felled.The high court had noted that forest cover accounts for only 3.67 per cent of Punjab's geographical area, lower than Rajasthan's 4.87 per cent.New Delhi,Oct 8, 2026 14:19 ISTThe Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Punjab government to submit a proposal for allocating adequate land for compensatory afforestation in areas where land is needed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for road construction.A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana expressed concern over the decline in Punjab’s forest cover and the lack of implementation of afforestation measures.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the NHAI, said the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued continuing directions restricting tree felling in Punjab, which was affecting the construction of public roads.Mehta said compensatory afforestation was a statutory requirement and mandatory when trees are felled. He also pointed out that Punjab is a border state where some roads need to be built for strategic purposes. The bench asked whether land for compensatory afforestation was being allocated within five km of the area where trees were being felled.Mehta said land was sometimes allocated within the five-km radius, while in some cases it was not possible to do so, though trees were being planted elsewhere. He also submitted that public projects were being stalled due to the high court's directions. The Supreme Court then directed the Punjab government to submit a proposal for providing adequate land for compensatory afforestation in areas where land is required for road construction.The court also directed the NHAI to serve a copy of its petition on the Punjab government and sought the state's response.On December 24, 2025, the high court had expressed concern over Punjab's declining forest cover and stayed tree felling for projects and other activities. The order was subsequently modified from time to time.The high court had noted that forest cover accounts for only 3.67 per cent of Punjab's geographical area, lower than Rajasthan's 4.87 per cent.The order was passed while hearing a PIL challenging the proposed felling of nearly 5,000 trees for the NHAI's Zirakpur bypass project, which connects Zirakpur in Punjab with a toll plaza on the Chandigarh-Shimla highway in Haryana.- Ends