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The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has introduced mandatory tree plantation norms linked to plot approvals, requiring developers and landowners to earmark green areas and deposit security amounts to ensure compliance. The rules, implemented recently, specify minimum plantation requirements based on plot size across residential, commercial, and institutional developments. Deposits ranging from INR 5,000 for smaller residential plots to INR 2 lakh for institutional uses will be refunded upon verification of plantation. The measure responds to declining green cover and high pollution levels in the city, where rapid infrastructure expansion has led to large-scale tree loss. Authorities aim to integrate environmental safeguards into urban planning by embedding plantation obligations within the approval process.
The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has implemented revised plot approval norms in the past week, mandating tree plantation linked to building permissions, with developers and landowners required to allocate space for greenery and deposit refundable security amounts to ensure compliance, as part of efforts to improve air quality and urban green cover in Ghaziabad. Advertisement
Under the new framework, approval for building plans will not be granted unless applicants clearly indicate designated areas for tree plantation within submitted layouts. Officials stated that the norms require a minimum number of trees based on plot size, embedding environmental considerations directly into the planning and approval process.
The plantation requirements vary across land use categories. For residential plots, at least two trees must be planted for every 100 square metres, while commercial and industrial plots are required to plant two trees for every 80 square metres, along with a broader mandate of 250 trees per hectare. In institutional areas such as schools and parks, at least 20 per cent of the land must be reserved for greenery, with a stipulation that where 50 or more trees are planted, half should comprise fruit-bearing species with large canopy cover.
To ensure adherence, the authority has introduced a graded security deposit system tied to plot size and land use. Residential plot owners must deposit INR 5,000 for plots up to 200 sqm, INR 10,000 for plots between 201 sqm and 300 sqm, and INR 15,000 for plots ranging from 301 sqm to 500 sqm. For plots exceeding 500 sqm, the deposit has been fixed at INR 25,000 per 100 sqm. Commercial and industrial developments require a deposit of INR 1 lakh, while institutional projects such as schools must deposit INR 2 lakh. These amounts will be refunded upon verification that plantation obligations have been fulfilled.
The move comes against the backdrop of sustained environmental pressures in Ghaziabad, where infrastructure projects have resulted in significant tree loss in recent years. Official data indicates that hundreds to thousands of trees have been removed for projects such as the Hindon elevated road, the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, and the Namo Bharat corridor.
Authorities have also cited air pollution concerns as a key driver behind the policy. Independent assessments have identified Ghaziabad among the most polluted cities in the country during recent winter months, with particulate matter levels significantly exceeding prescribed standards. Officials noted that increasing tree cover can help filter particulate pollution and improve overall environmental conditions.
The revised norms reflect a shift towards integrating environmental compliance into development regulation, ensuring that urban expansion is accompanied by compensatory green infrastructure. By linking approvals to plantation outcomes through financial safeguards, the authority aims to strengthen enforcement and improve long-term monitoring of green cover across the city.
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