New Delhi Nov 29 PTI The Supreme Court Monday directed Delhi Metro Rail Corporation DMRC to get forest clearance under the Forest Conservation Act for felling of trees for phase IV of metro expansionDMRC has identified over 10000 trees for felling for the expansion work of the Janakpuri-RK Ashram Maujpur-Majlis Park and Aerocity-Tughlaqabad corridors phase IV and has not got requisite permission for chopping them A bench of Justices M R Shah and B V Nagarathna asked DMRC to file an application before the Chief Conservator of Forests of the Delhi government who will forward it with his recommendation within one month to the Ministry of Environment and ForestsThe apex court also asked the Delhi government to frame a comprehensive plan for planting trees and saplings in the national capitalIt asked the Delhi government to involve NGOs members of civil society students and others in planting trees in the cityThe apex court had earlier said it would not accept the submission of the Central Empowered Committee CEC appointed by it that all trees are not forests and said the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation DMRC would have to get forest clearance under the Forest Conservation Act for felling of trees for phase IV of metro expansionIt had said it cannot stall the development but there has to be a balance between development and environmentThe top court had earlier agreed to consider listing for an urgent hearing the plea of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation DMRC alleging that its ongoing construction work has been halted due to lack of requisite permission for felling treesNearly 3000 workers are sitting idle and a loss of Rs 34 crore is being incurred by DMRC per day because no construction work is going on due to the lack of permission Mehta had told the apex courtThe law officer had said that the DMRC has filed an interim application in a pending PIL titled T N Godavarman versus UOI about issues including forest preservationPTI PKS RKS RKS