The Supreme Court issued notice to flood-affected states, observing that illegal tree-felling was taking place in the wake of landslides and floods.
Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, while hearing a Public
Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging illegal felling of trees as a key reason for such disasters, said that there have been unprecedented rains and flooding this year. The court issued notice to Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.
The top court cited the media reports and said that there is clear evidence that there has been illegal felling of trees in those states.
States in northern India, including hill states Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, have witnessed flood situation in recent weeks due to heavy rains. Punjab has faced its worst floods in around four decades.
“Prima facie, it is seen that there is illegal felling of trees that happened, we issue notice to the respondent, returnable within 3 weeks,” the CJI said, Live Law reported.
The top court asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to take note of the situation.
“It appears to be a very serious issue; the media has shown that a large number of wooden blocks are flowing in Himachal,” the court said.
The CJI said that the court is seeking pictures of Punjab and stressed that development has to be “balanced”. “We are seeking the pictures of Punjab, the entire fields and villages are eradicated, development has to be balanced,” he said, Live Law reported.
As many as 37 people have died so far in the Punjab floods, while over 4,000 people have been relocated to shelter camps in Jammu and Kashmir. In the national capital, where the Yamuna River is flowing above the danger mark, 8,018 people were shifted to tents, and 2,030 others were moved to 13 permanent shelters, officials said.
Nearly 10,000 people living in the low-lying areas have been impacted due to the flooded river.
