New Delhi: The environment versus development debate has reached the highest court of India. The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Central government and the Maharashtra government seeking their response on a petition challenging the felling of 11,600 trees for a Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) pipeline project.Environmentalists raise concernsThe petition, filed by environmental activist Zoru Bhathena, argues that the project would be devastating to the local ecology. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing Bhathena, raised concerns about the destruction of wetlands along the pipeline route. This aligns with growing anxieties about preserving Indias vital ecosystems.Bombay High Court order challengedThe Supreme Courts intervention comes after the Bombay High Court dismissed Bhathenas initial plea. The High Court had suggested that relevant expert bodies might not have been adequately consulted before granting permission for the project.Uncertain fate of the projectSolicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central government, informed the court that he would seek instructions and respond at a later date. This leaves the fate of the project hanging in the balance.
