New Delhi/Chandigarh, August 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Rajya Sabha Member Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal on Thursday raised the issue of protecting old, large and heritage trees during the construction of National Highways, following which the Central Government assured Parliament that trees would not be felled unless there was no viable alternative.
Through a written question in the Rajya Sabha, Seechewal sought details of the measures being adopted to protect heritage trees during highway projects. He also sought information on compensatory afforestation policies in Punjab and other states, the creation of green belts and biodiversity corridors along National Highways, and the number of trees planted across the country, including Punjab, to offset those removed during highway construction.
In a written reply, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari informed the House that green belts are being developed along National Highways under the Green Highways Policy, 2015. He said the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is promoting the plantation of indigenous tree species suited to local climatic conditions and has also undertaken initiatives such as Bee Corridors and Arogya Van to strengthen biodiversity along highway corridors.
The Minister further stated that under the Tree Transplantation Guidelines issued on April 19, 2022, trees are not to be cut unless all possible alternatives have been examined. Before granting permission for felling, authorities are required to explore options such as changes in project design, modifications in highway alignment and transplantation of trees wherever feasible.
The reply also noted that in forest areas, tree felling is carried out strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Forest (Conservation and Augmentation) Act, 1980, and that compensatory afforestation is mandatory wherever trees are removed.
Welcoming the government’s response, Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal said infrastructure development and environmental conservation must go hand in hand. He described heritage trees as an invaluable part of the country’s natural heritage and stressed that their protection should remain a priority in every development project.
He also urged the authorities to ensure that the assurances given by the Central Government in Parliament are implemented effectively on the ground so that development activities do not come at the cost of environmental sustainability.
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