The Chhattisgarh High Court admonished the railways for unauthorised tree felling during the construction of a railway depot in Bilaspur and dismissed the public interest litigation (PIL) filed on the matter. The division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Kumar Sinha and Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad conducted the hearing, scrutinising the actions of the railways. The PIL was prompted by media reports highlighting the felling of 242 trees for the Vande Bharat train maintenance depot without the requisite clearance from the Forest Department. Acting on these reports, the Chief Justice had directed the Registrar General to register the case as a PIL. During the hearing, Deputy Solicitor General Ramakant Mishra, representing the railways, submitted an affidavit on 25 November 2024, claiming procedural compliance. The affidavit detailed that the railways consulted forestry and wildlife expert Neha Banshod, who submitted her report on 15 July 2024, after an earlier application to the Divisional Forest Officer. It further stated that the felling of trees adhered to the amended Tree Felling Regulations, 2022, which allow tree clearance for government projects under specific conditions.

 

However, the Forest Department’s affidavit revealed significant discrepancies. It reported that despite applying for permission, the railways felled 116 trees, transplanted 54, and preserved 72, including species such as acacia and moringa, without obtaining full approval. The affidavit also pointed out that the process violated existing environmental protocols. Expressing its displeasure, the court rebuked the railways for proceeding with tree felling without complete authorisation. “We hope and trust that the railways will act responsibly in the future and ensure that any such action is taken cautiously and in the public interest,” the bench remarked, underscoring the need for environmental sensitivity in infrastructure projects. With this admonishment, the HC dismissed the PIL, highlighting the necessity of adhering to legal procedures and safeguarding ecological balance in state-sponsored projects.