**Supreme Court Issues Notice to Centre and States Over Illegal Tree-Felling Amid Flood Crisis**
*New Delhi:* The Supreme Court on Thursday took cognizance of the ongoing floods affecting several northern states and issued a notice to the Central Government and the concerned states over reports of illegal tree-felling.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran made the observation while hearing a petition related to the unprecedented floods and rains in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have seen unprecedented landslides and floods in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab. From the media reports, it is noticed that during the floods, a huge amount of wood was flowing along. Prima facie, it appears that there has been illegal felling of trees,” the bench remarked.
The notice was sent to the Central Government, the National Disaster Management Authority of India (NDMA), as well as the state governments of Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab.
Referring to videos circulating on social media showing large numbers of timber logs being washed down the hills by floodwaters in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the Chief Justice emphasized to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that this is a serious issue that requires immediate attention.
The Supreme Court has granted two weeks’ time for the Centre and the state governments to file their responses. The plea, filed by Anamika Rana, alleges that illegal tree-felling is a key factor contributing to the severity of these natural disasters.
The bench has scheduled the next hearing after two weeks and asked the Solicitor General to ensure that effective remedial measures are implemented to address the situation.
Notably, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand have recently been hit by flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall and cloudbursts. Several lives have been lost due to rain-related incidents in these regions.
Meanwhile, floods have also wreaked havoc in Punjab, where around 30 people have died and approximately 1,400 villages have been inundated.
The Supreme Court’s intervention signals the urgency of addressing environmental concerns, specifically illegal logging, which may be exacerbating the impact of these natural calamities.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/illegal-felling-of-trees-supreme-court-issues-notice-to-flood-affected-northern-states
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