India, Oct. 28 -- The Supreme Court on Monday slammed the Maharashtra government over the compensatory afforestation carried out in lieu of trees cut in Aarey forest to make way for infrastructure projects, after an inspection of more than 20,000 saplings revealed that only 50% of trees had managed to survive.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R Gavai threatened to withdraw all previous tree felling, noting that the state has not been "sincere" in implementing the court's orders. It further directed the state's chief secretary to come up with concrete proposals by November 10 for the management and protection of the trees planted as part of compensatory afforestation.

The court was hearing an application filed by th...