In Brief
A public-interest petition challenged West Bengal's plan to fell hundreds of trees, some over 150 years old, to build Road Over Bridges and widen roads. The Supreme Court recognized the right to a clean environment as fundamental under Article 21, while acknowledging the state's developmental concerns. Rather than blocking the project, the Court held that tree-felling decisions must balance conservation and development. It established that compensation must be calculated based on the tree's full environmental value—oxygen production, carbon sequestration, soil conservation, habitat protection—not just timber worth. The Court constituted an expert committee to develop national guidelines for tree-felling in development projects, ensuring compensation funds are used for afforestation and environmental restoration.
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