Supreme Court Halts Tree Felling for Kolkata Metro Rail Project

The Supreme Court has directed that no trees be cut or transplanted for the Kolkata metro rail project near Victoria Memorial. Notices have been issued to the West Bengal government and RVNL. The order follows a plea against the Calcutta High Court's ruling, with a hearing set in three weeks.

The Supreme Court on Friday halted the felling and transplantation of trees for the Kolkata metro rail project in the maidan area next to the iconic Victoria Memorial.

A bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan issued notices to the West Bengal government and the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), seeking their responses to a plea challenging the Calcutta High Court's June 20 verdict.

The high court had previously dismissed a petition urging the cessation of all construction activities in the area due to the alleged felling and transplantation of a significant number of trees. The Supreme Court bench has directed that no further trees be cut or transplanted until the next hearing, scheduled in three weeks.

''You can continue with the work but don't fell trees from today,'' the bench instructed the counsel representing the RVNL.

(With inputs from agencies.)