Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a significant order balancing infrastructure development with environmental protection, the Bombay High Court at Goa has directed the State government to prepare a comprehensive policy on tree relocation and conservation. The policy will be based on recommendations submitted by an expert panel appointed by the court.
The order was passed in connection with the widening of the Cortalim–Margao section of National Highway 66. While permitting the removal of 60 trees required for the project, the court ruled that 193 others should be relocated rather than cut down.
According to the court, the trees identified for relocation include both younger and mature specimens. It emphasised that scientific translocation should be considered wherever practical, allowing development works to proceed without causing unnecessary loss of greenery.
The Bench observed that Goa currently lacks a clear framework governing tree relocation during major development projects. To address this gap, it directed the State government to formulate a policy that lays down guidelines for assessing, relocating and monitoring trees affected by public works.
The move follows concerns raised by the court over permissions granted for the removal of hundreds of trees for the highway project. During earlier proceedings, the Bench had questioned whether adequate efforts were made to explore alternatives to felling and whether detailed plans for relocation and compensatory plantation had been prepared.
The court also noted apparent shortcomings in the approval process, pointing out that previous directions requiring authorities to evaluate tree-saving measures, identify relocation sites and provide implementation timelines were not fully reflected in the relevant orders.
To independently assess the situation, the High Court had constituted a three-member committee comprising senior officials and experts from the Forest Department, Goa State Biodiversity Board and ICAR-CCARI. The panel was tasked with examining the affected trees and evaluating the feasibility of relocation and replantation measures.
Based on the committee’s findings, the court has now cleared the felling of a limited number of trees while directing that a much larger number be preserved through relocation.
The order is expected to influence how future development projects are planned in Goa, with the proposed policy likely to establish uniform procedures for tree conservation, relocation and post-translocation monitoring across the State.
