Punjab's Tree Relocation Policy Under Judicial Scrutiny: High Court Questions Ecological Compensation Strategy

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has launched a critical examination of the state's environmental compensation protocols, specifically challenging the practice of planting compensatory trees at locations distant from original removal sites. This judicial inquiry emerged during proceedings addressing multiple petitions against tree felling for infrastructure projects, including a Mohali administration plan to remove 251 trees for roundabout construction near Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan, Sector 78/79, and CP-67 mall, alongside opposition to clearance for a shopping mall development. The court's December 24 order initially imposed a statewide stay on tree removal across Punjab, later modified to exempt certain categories such as National Highways Authority of India projects. This intervention highlights growing judicial concern over whether geographically disconnected compensatory planting effectively mitigates ecological damage, suggesting potential deficiencies in current environmental offset mechanisms. The case represents a significant development in balancing urban development with ecological preservation, with implications for future infrastructure planning and environmental compliance standards throughout the region.