Construction of Delhi Metro's rapidly expanding network, which has breached the 200 km milestone recently, has resulted in the felling of over 40,000 trees till date while nearly 4 lakh saplings have been planted to compensate the loss. The figures assume significance in the light of Delhi High Court's observation that the "magnitude" of trees cut by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for various projects has led to rise of air pollution in Delhi. During its Phase I and Phase II construction, Metro had obtained permission to cut a total of 38,958 tress.