📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Jaiveer singh shergill
National
Supreme Court orders Punjab to submit compensatory afforestation plan for road projects
✍️ India Today
🗓 08 Oct 2026, 02:32 PM
👁 16
The Supreme Court has directed the Punjab government to prepare and submit a land‑use plan for compensatory afforestation linked to ongoing road construction work in the state.
New Delhi — In a recent judgment, the Supreme Court instructed the Punjab administration to draft a detailed land‑use plan that will facilitate compensatory afforestation for several road projects underway in the state. The court emphasized that the environmental impact of infrastructure development must be mitigated through the creation of new forest cover on designated lands.
The order requires the state to identify suitable parcels of land, outline planting schedules, and ensure that the afforestation effort meets the standards prescribed under the Forest Conservation Act. Punjab officials are expected to submit the plan to the court within a stipulated timeframe.
Legal experts note that the directive reinforces the judiciary's role in enforcing environmental safeguards while allowing essential infrastructure work to continue. The decision also signals to other states that similar compliance may be demanded in future development schemes.
The Punjab government has acknowledged the ruling and indicated that a technical committee will be formed to prepare the required documentation. Implementation details, including funding and monitoring mechanisms, will be finalized in consultation with the forest department and relevant ministries.
Stakeholders, including local communities and environmental NGOs, have welcomed the move, viewing it as a step toward balancing growth with ecological responsibility.
The order requires the state to identify suitable parcels of land, outline planting schedules, and ensure that the afforestation effort meets the standards prescribed under the Forest Conservation Act. Punjab officials are expected to submit the plan to the court within a stipulated timeframe.
Legal experts note that the directive reinforces the judiciary's role in enforcing environmental safeguards while allowing essential infrastructure work to continue. The decision also signals to other states that similar compliance may be demanded in future development schemes.
The Punjab government has acknowledged the ruling and indicated that a technical committee will be formed to prepare the required documentation. Implementation details, including funding and monitoring mechanisms, will be finalized in consultation with the forest department and relevant ministries.
Stakeholders, including local communities and environmental NGOs, have welcomed the move, viewing it as a step toward balancing growth with ecological responsibility.