The Supreme Court on Friday directed that no trees would be felled or transplanted from now onwards for the metro rail project in the maidan area adjoining the iconic Victoria Memoria in Kolkata.

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan issued notices to the West Bengal Government, the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and others seeking their responses on a plea challenging the June 20 verdict of the Calcutta High Court.

The high court had dismissed a petition seeking a direction to forthwith stop all metro construction in the maidan area due to alleged felling and transplantation of a large number of trees.

“Till the next date, we direct that no new trees would be felled or transplanted,” the bench said and posted the matter for hearing after three weeks.

“You can continue with the work but don’t fell trees from today,” the bench told the counsel appearing for the RVNL.The counsel appearing for petitioner ‘People United For Better Living in Kolkata (PUBLIC)’ told the bench that the maidan area was extremely important for the city.

He said the route chosen for the metro project goes through maidan area and a number of trees would be felled or transplanted for it.

“We perceive that a large number of trees will be felled,” the petitioner’s counsel said, adding, “let them (authorities) come up with a plan for these trees”.

The bench asked the counsel appearing for the RVNL to show it how the trees will be transplanted. n”Issue notice, returnable in three weeks,” the bench said. It further said, “In the meantime, don’t proceed with felling of trees.”