**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 206 in Lok Sabha, answered on January 29th, 2026, regarding the cutting down of trees due to the expansion of National Highway-530B (NH-530B). The Minister of Road Transport and Highways provides details on the number of trees to be cut and the compensatory afforestation measures being taken.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **NH-530B Expansion:**
* NH-530B is being widened to four lanes under different packages.
* 33,035 trees have been identified for felling due to the expansion.
* **Permissions and Deposits:**
* Permission to cut the trees has been obtained from the Forest Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
* The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has deposited the required amount demanded by the Forest Department.
* **Compensatory Afforestation:**
* Compensatory Afforestation (CA) and Net Present Value (NPV) will be carried out by the Forest Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
* NHAI will also undertake avenue plantation along the highway corridor where feasible.
* Emphasis will be given to native species with high survival rate and carbon absorption capacity.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for depositing the amount demanded by the Forest Department and undertaking avenue plantation along the highway corridor.
* **Action Required:** Complete the avenue plantation along the highway corridor, emphasizing on native species with high survival rate and carbon absorption capacity.
**Stakeholder: Forest Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh**
* **Impact:** Responsible for granting permission for tree felling and carrying out compensatory afforestation.
* **Action Required:** Carry out compensatory afforestation using deposited funds.
**Stakeholder: Environment and Local Ecosystems**
* **Impact:** Loss of mature trees due to construction.
* **Action Required:** Facilitate the Forest Department to complete compensatory afforestation as quickly as possible.
Key Entities Referenced
NH-530B: National Highway being widened, leading to tree cutting
Compensatory Afforestation (CA): Planting of trees to offset the loss due to cutting trees for the highway expansion.
Uttar Pradesh: State where the NH-530B expansion and related tree cutting are occurring
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The ministry responsible for the highway expansion
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): The authority responsible for undertaking the highway expansion and related compensatory afforestation.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 206
ANSWERED ON 29TH JANUARY, 2026
TREES CUT DOWN DUE TO EXPANSION OF NH-530B
206. SHRI DEVESH SHAKYA:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that a large number of mature
trees are being cut down because of the construction/expansion of National
Highway-530B passing through Kasganj, Budaun, Bareilly, Aonla and Etah
Parliamentary Constituencies of Uttar Pradesh;
(b) if so, the details of number of trees cut down so far under the said project
along with the number of trees planted in their place, State-wise;
(c) whether it is also a fact that often only small saplings are planted in the
name of compensatory afforestation having carbon sequestration capacity
significantly lower than that of mature trees, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the policies/guidelines issued by the Government to ensure the plantation
of trees with high carbon absorption capacity, long lifespan and high survival
rates in proportion to the number of cut down trees?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (d) NH-530B is being widened to four lanes under different packages. In
the proposed widening, a total of 33,035 trees have been identified for felling.
Permission for cutting these trees has been obtained from the Forest
Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh. The National Highways Authority of
India (NHAI) has deposited the amount demanded by the Forest Departmenttowards Compensatory Afforestation (CA) and Net Present Value (NPV). The
compensatory afforestation shall be carried out by the Forest Department,
Government of Uttar Pradesh. In addition, avenue plantation along the highway
corridor shall be undertaken by NHAI, along the available Right of Way and
medians of National Highways, wherever feasible, with emphasis on native
species having high survival rate and carbon absorption capacity.
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