Supreme Court Seeks Response from Centre, NDMA Amid Himalayan Floods and Landslides
New Delhi: In the wake of unprecedented landslides and floods in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, the Supreme Court on Thursday sought responses from the Centre, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and other concerned authorities, noting that “illegal felling of trees contributed to the disasters.”
A bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran emphasized the need to strike a balance between “development and environment” and issued notices to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and the governments of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, and Punjab.
“We have seen unprecedented landslides and floods. Media reports indicate that a large number of wooden logs were flowing in the floods. Prima facie, it appears there has been illegal tree felling. Notices should be issued to the respondents,” the CJI observed.
Advocates Akash Vashishtha and Shubham Upadhyay, representing petitioner Anamika Rana, were permitted to serve the notice and petition to the central authorities. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing in court for another case, was asked to take note of the situation and ensure remedial measures.
“Please take note of this. A large number of wooden logs are falling, indicating illegal tree felling. Entire fields and crops in Punjab are inundated. Development must be balanced with mitigation measures,” the CJI remarked.
Mehta acknowledged the severity of the issue, stating, “We have interfered with nature so much that nature is responding now. I will speak to the environment secretary today, who will coordinate with the state chief secretaries. Such situations cannot be permitted.”
The petitioner’s counsel highlighted instances of people trapped in tunnels and near-death situations. The bench recognized the seriousness of the matter and scheduled the next hearing in two weeks.
Filed through lawyer Akash Vashishtha, the plea seeks the framing of an action plan and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiry into the causes of landslides and flash floods, along with measures to prevent future disasters. It points out that despite the presence of dedicated disaster authorities, the central and state governments lack effective plans to mitigate the losses from these increasingly frequent disasters.
The petition further notes that the Ministries of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Jal Shakti have failed to protect the “pristine ecology and rivers of the Himalayan region from degradation.” It emphasizes that the plea is filed in the larger public interest to safeguard the constitutional right to life (Article 21) and access to justice for residents of the Himalayan states.
The plea seeks the constitution of an independent expert committee to investigate geological, geo-technical, and environmental factors in all road and highway projects affected by landslides, and to assess the causes of floods and flash floods in rivers, streams, and water channels in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir. It also requests directions to the Centre and other authorities to ensure emergency relief, rescue operations, safety measures, and first-aid for affected citizens.
