SC Permits Removal of Invasive Trees From Delhi's Central Ridge
SC allows Delhi forest dept to remove invasive trees like vilayati keekar from Central Ridge, replacing them with indigenous species
The Supreme Court on Thursday permitted the Delhi government’s forest department to remove invasive tree species from the Central Ridge, regarded as one of the national capital’s green lungs.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana accepted the department’s contention that invasive species such as vilayati keekar, or Prosopis juliflora, babool and eucalyptus needed to be uprooted to make way for indigenous species such as neem, banyan, peepal, jamun and amaltas.
The court directed the department to carry out the work under the Delhi Eco-restoration Plan, 2026-30, prepared by the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. The exercise will be supervised by the Delhi Ridge Management Board.
The forest department was directed to submit an interim compliance report. The FRI director was asked to constitute a team of experts to examine the implementation of the plan.
The Supreme Court also stayed contempt proceedings initiated by the Delhi High Court.
Additional Solicitor-General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the forest department, said the Central Ridge covered a large area and about 13,000 invasive trees still needed to be uprooted before indigenous trees could be planted.
Lt Col. (retd) Sarvadaman Singh Oberoi, managing trustee of the Aravalli Bachao Citizens Movement, had filed a contempt petition before the High Court alleging violations of court orders relating to construction, clearing and excavation in the Central Ridge.
Senior advocate Shoeb Alam, appearing for Oberoi, said he did not oppose the planting of indigenous trees but contended that the method used to uproot old trees was damaging mineral-rich topsoil.
Chief Justice Kant said eucalyptus and vilayati keekar depleted groundwater and damaged the soil, preventing other plants from growing nearby. Unless removed by their roots, the invasive trees would grow back, he said.
“In the 1970s, as the paper industry grew, farmers in India began planting eucalyptus and other trees without knowing their harmful effects. Nowadays, nobody plants these trees. Farmers have found a substitute in poplar, which is eco-friendly and can be used in the timber and paper industries,” the Chief Justice said.
Bhati said that under the annual plan for 2026-27, 22,188 invasive trees were to be removed from 191 hectares and replaced with about 7.29 lakh indigenous trees and shrubs.
She said more than 9,000 invasive trees had been removed and about 5.31 lakh trees and shrubs planted over nearly 120 hectares. These included about 2.23 lakh trees and 3.07 lakh shrubs.
About 13,161 invasive trees remained to be removed from nearly 70 hectares, she said.
The department sought permission to complete the planting before the monsoon ended in September, saying plantation carried out later might not produce the desired results.
The forest department had challenged an August 20 Delhi High Court order directing that no construction, clearing, excavation or removal of trees and shrubs be undertaken in the Central Ridge.