Ghaziabad won't allow building construction without tree plantation anymore: Check new plot approval norms for builders & land owners

In a significant move to increase the city’s green cover, the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has made tree plantation mandatory for all building approvals starting April 1.

Under the new rule, no map will be approved unless the submitted plan clearly shows space earmarked for planting trees as per the plot size. The authority has also introduced a refundable security deposit that will be returned only after officials physically verify that the required trees have actually been planted.

How many trees are required as per GDA?

According to GDA officials, for every 100 square metres of residential plot, two trees must be planted and clearly marked on the map. For commercial and industrial plots, the norm is stricter — two trees for every 80 square metres, and 250 trees per hectare.


In school and park areas, at least 20% of the total land must have greenery. If 50 or more trees are planted, at least 50% of them should be fruit-bearing varieties with a large canopy.

Security deposit details

The authority has fixed the following security amounts:

• Residential plots up to 200 sqm: ₹5,000
  
• Plots between 201-300 sqm: ₹10,000
  
• Plots between 301-500 sqm: ₹15,000
  
• Plots above 500 sqm: ₹25,000 per 100 sqm
  

For commercial and industrial plots, the deposit is ₹1 lakh, while schools will have to submit ₹2 lakh.

The money will be refunded only after GDA officials are satisfied with the plantation work.

Why this rule now?

Ghaziabad has lost thousands of trees in recent years to development projects. For the Hindon elevated road, 375 trees were cut. During the Delhi-Meerut Expressway refurbishment, 2,760 trees and shrubs were removed. Another 2,029 trees and shrubs were axed for the Namo Bharat project.

The India State of Forest Report 2023 showed only a marginal 0.03% increase in green cover compared to 2021, a figure that environmentalists have questioned.

According to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), Ghaziabad was India's most polluted city as the city recorded the highest average PM2.5 level in India last winter at 172 micrograms per cubic metre — far above the national standard of 60. Trees are known to help filter out harmful PM2.5 particles.

GDA officials believe the new mandatory plantation rule, backed by a security deposit system, will help improve air quality and green cover in the rapidly urbanising city.

(With TOI inputs)