New Delhi, Oct. 2 -- The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to take instructions by October 8 on an expert panel report seeking a ban on a fast-growing exotic tree species Conocarpus used extensively for green landscaping in urban cities, including Delhi.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R Gavai passed the order following a report by the expert panel - Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which flagged the serious ecological and public health concerns caused by the plant species.

Taking up the matter on September 17 in the TN Godavarman batch of cases related to protection of the environment, additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati who appeared for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFC...