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Informist, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025

 

NEW DELHI - The Supreme Court Thursday issued notices to the Centre, National Disaster Management Authority, the governments of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and others on a public interest litigation seeking guidelines and inquiry to prevent ecological disasters and protect the Himalayan states, particularly from the recurring landslides and flashfloods. The petitioner Anamika Rana, an environmentalist, sought the formation of a special investigation team involving experts to find out the reasons for such disasters and to determine how to preserve the delicate ecology of the Himalayan states.

 

Taking note of the devastating landslides and floods that hit Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir, the bench, led by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, flagged reports of a large number of cut wooden logs floating in the flooded areas. "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," said the bench, also comprising Justice Vinod Chandran.

 

"SG (Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta), please take note of this. It appears to be a serious issue. A large number of wooden logs were seen to be falling around and it shows illegal felling of trees. We have seen pictures of Punjab, entire fields and crops are inundated. Development has to be balanced with mitigating measures," said the top court. Mehta said the matter was being treated seriously and he would speak to the secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. "We have interfered with nature so much that nature is giving back now. I will speak to the secretary of the environment ministry and he will speak to chief secretaries. It cannot be permitted," said Mehta. 

 

In its petition, Rana had highlighted several recent environmental disasters such as cloudbursts, flashfloods, and landslips in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, which have led to fatalities. The apex court will hear the case next after two weeks.

 

On Jul. 18, a bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan had observed that it is not far when Himachal Pradesh will vanish from India's map, after noting that rampant construction in the state had destroyed its ecology. "Look at the natural calamities, all this infrastructure has destroyed the entire state," said the bench. The state is finished and the state government and the officials are solely responsible for the current condition of Himachal Pradesh, the top court said. "You (Himachal Pradesh government) never paid attention. You permitted developers to construct. Look at the condition today, who is suffering? Poor people in the state. You can't control the flow of tourism in the state. The state government and authorities are responsible for this situation and God forbid the time is not far when the state of Himachal Pradesh will vanish," it said.   End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Subhojit Sarkar

 

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