Context:
- Kancha Gachibowli, a critical urban forest in Hyderabad, recently faced threats from industrial development, which were halted following Supreme Court intervention.
- As Indian cities expand rapidly, urban forests are emerging as indispensable assets for environmental resilience, public health, and climate mitigation.
- Recognising this, the Nagar Van Yojana aims to establish 1,000 urban forests by 2027.
Key Highlights:
Why Urban Forests Matter:
Urban forests such as:
- Kancha Gachibowli (Hyderabad)
- Aarey (Mumbai)
- Turahalli (Bengaluru)
- Neela Hauz (Delhi)
- Delhi Ridge and Pol Ka Baadli (Jaipur)
play a crucial role in:
- Cooling urban microclimates and mitigating urban heat island effect
- Absorbing air pollutants like PM 2.5 and PM 10
- Carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation
- Noise reduction and recreational spaces
- Biodiversity support within city landscapes
- Providing mental health and well-being spaces in densely built environments
Global Evidence:
- The US Department of Agriculture estimates that urban forests remove nearly 1.2 million tonnes of air pollutants annually.
Environmental and Legal Challenges:
Urbanisation vs Environmental Protection:
- Governments frequently attempt to divert urban forest land for:
- Real estate
- Infrastructure projects
- Industrial development
- Such diversions are often justified under “public purpose”, sidelining ecological costs.
Judicial Safeguards:
- Courts have invoked constitutional provisions such as:
- Article 21 – Right to Life (includes clean air and healthy environment)
- Article 48A – State’s duty to protect the environment
- Article 51A(g) – Fundamental duty of citizens to protect nature
- A 2006 Supreme Court judgment mandated all states to identify and conserve urban forests.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Issue: Loss and degradation of urban forests due to unchecked urbanisation.
- Key Concepts:
- Urban Forests: Forest patches within or around cities providing ecosystem services.
- Nagar Van Yojana: MoEFCC scheme launched in 2020 to create urban green lungs.
- Scheme Data (2023):
- 145.81 km² of tree and forest cover created.
- Target of 1,000 urban forests by 2027.
- Constitutional Anchors:
- Article 21
- Article 48A
- Article 51A(g)
- Impact:
- Supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Relevant Mains Points:
- Governance & Policy Gaps:
- Urban missions like Smart Cities Mission and AMRUT lack binding ecological safeguards.
- Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are often bypassed in city-level planning.
- Role of Judiciary:
- Acts as a critical check on executive overreach.
- Key rulings:
- Bombay HC declaring Aarey as a forest
- NCLT imposing penalties for indiscriminate tree felling in Prayagraj
- Supreme Court on Gachibowli reaffirming urban forests as public commons
- Way Forward:
- Integrate ecological mapping into master plans.
- Provide statutory protection to identified urban forests.
- Strengthen community and municipal participation in urban greening.
- Mandate green audits for urban infrastructure projects.
- Align urban development with constitutional environmental obligations.