India to chop down 2.3 million trees to make way for big infrastructure projects

India will cut down 2.3 million trees to make way for large-scale infrastructure projects across the country, a move that has triggered widespread condemnation from environmentalists.

Federal Environment Minister Ashwini Choubey told parliament on Thursday that his ministry had cleared about 90 projects, including motorways, airports, ports and thermal power infrastructure.

Many of the projects will cut through protected areas and require a lot of trees to be felled.

“Over the last three years [2020 to 2022], about 31 projects related to highways, 11 projects related to ports, 15 projects related to airports, 20 projects related to river valleys and 10 projects related to thermal power plants have been granted environmental clearance by the ministry,” Mr Choubey said.

“Out of these, three projects are related to highways which are passing through protected areas. About 2.3 million trees have been proposed to be removed for the development of these projects.”

He told the parliament that a compensatory tree-planting drive would be carried out.

Mr Choubey spoke about the projects after opposition Congress politician Vivek Tankha raised questions about environmental clearances for infrastructure projects and asked whether the projects would pass through protected areas.

The response has drawn criticism and outrage from environmentalists and others, including journalists.

“While most of the cities of India are gasping for breath and have a poor to severe air regime, the government in its ‘wisdom’ of ‘growth’ proposes to CHOP over 2.3 million (23 lakh) trees,” environmentalist Vimlendu Jha said on Twitter.

“Do we realise that we're building a breathless nation? Why can’t we ‘build’ around trees and not over them?”

Some people also questioned the government’s decision of felling trees at a time when the Himalayan Hindu pilgrimage town of Joshimath was crumbling due to subsidence.

When asked about the sinking town, where about 700 buildings developed large cracks because of subsidence due to infrastructure projects, and whether the projects in the region were subjected to environmental and social impact reviews, Mr Choubey said “all assessments are project specific”.

Experts have attributed the subsidence to the rampant infrastructure construction, which they said had damaged the region's ecological balance.

Mr Choubey’s response has irked many who have called it “business as usual for the government”.

Film director Veena Bakshi said the 2.3 million trees earmarked for chopping down amount “to an entire forest. Just another day for a government who hasn't batted an eyelid at the subsidence of Joshimath”.

Renowned journalist Pamela Philipose said: “Looks like we will have to reconcile ourselves to more Joshimaths … Environment minister (do you know his name even?) says 2.3 million trees will be removed for mega infrastructure projects. Business carries on, environment be damned!”

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Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster

The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh135,000

Engine 1.6L turbo

Gearbox Six speed automatic with manual and sports mode

Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 240Nm @ 1,400rpm 0-100kph: 9.2 seconds

Top speed 420 kph (governed)

Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)

THE DETAILS

Deadpool 2

Dir: David Leitch

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz

Four stars

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Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Low turnout

Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.

Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.

"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."

Results

5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions Dh90,000 2,200m

Winner: Mudaarab, Jim Crowley (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer).

5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,400m

Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Hassan Al Hammadi.

6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m

Winner: Salima Al Reef, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi.

6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige Dh100,000 1,600m

Winner: Bainoona, Ricardo Iacopini, Eric Lemartinel.

7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m

Winner: Assyad, Victoria Larsen, Eric Lemartinel.

8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1 Dh5,000,000 1,600m

Winner: Mashhur Al Khalediah, Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Phillip Collington.

The%20specs

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

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Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Power: 237hp @ 5,000rpm

Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km

Changing visa rules

For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.

Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.

It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.

The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.

The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.