In response to the severe landslides and floods that have recently affected states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the Supreme Court has issued notices seeking responses from the central government, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and other relevant bodies.
The court suggested that illegal felling of trees was a key contributing factor to these natural disasters.
A bench, comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, has also issued notices to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and the state governments of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab.
The court's action comes after a plea was filed by Anamika Rana, who argued that illegal tree felling was a primary cause of the disasters. The Bench has scheduled the plea for a hearing in two weeks and has instructed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ensure that corrective measures are taken.
The Chief Justice stated, “We have seen unprecedented landslides and floods in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. From the media reports it is noticed that in the flood a huge number of wood was flowing along. Prima facie it appears that there has been illegal felling of trees. Thus issue notice to respondents. Returnable in two weeks…”
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