Raj HC orders 10 trees planted for every tree cut in Gati Shakti Project

Jodhpur: The Rajasthan High Court has ordered to plant ten trees in lieu of one tree while hearing a PIL filed regarding the trees being cut for the construction of a freight terminal under the PM Gati Shakti Yojana near Luni in Jodhpur.

Advocate Moti Singh Rajpurohit, on behalf of Khem Singh, presented the petition before the division bench of Justice Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Yogendra Kumar Purohit and said that trees are being cut in the name of development.

On this, the court considered that along with taking the project forward, some alternative measures can be taken to save trees. Court said that the project has a wide impact on employment, development and connectivity, but cutting trees is also a pathetic situation and requires adequate compensation through extensive plantation.

AAG Rajesh Panwar, on behalf of govt, said that it is already bound to plant twice the number of trees being cut under the project. Court later directed respondents to mark the place for plantation before next hearing and present a complete report regarding plantation on July 10.