Overview
- A court-appointed commission with nominees of the advocate general, GMADA, the Forest Department, and petitioners will inspect the Mohali stretch within four days and file a detailed report next week, including maps marking heritage and non-heritage trees.
- GMADA seeks to fell 251 trees to build three roundabouts on Mohali’s PR 7 Road at accident-prone junctions, but the bench insisted on site-specific findings before any permission.
- The Punjab government was directed to decide within three weeks BBMB’s August 18, 2025 application to cut about 4,056 trees for an 18 MW solar project through a speaking order.
- The bench modified its December 24 blanket ban to let NHAI proceed on projects with full statutory approvals, including Stage II forest clearances, subject to all conditions and compensatory afforestation, noting one border highway stretch is nearly 75% complete.
- The judges stressed protecting mature species such as peepal, banyan, and neem, signaled a preference for a 10:1 compensatory planting ratio over the state’s 5:1 norm, and clarified exemptions for agroforestry on private land and removal of certified hazardous trees.