'Illegal Felling Of Trees': Supreme Court Issues Notice To Flood-Affected Northern States

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a notice to the Center and states grappling with floods, noting that illegal tree-felling is taking place. 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 several northern states of the country.

"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," the bench said.

The notice was sent to the Central Government, the National Disaster Management Authority of India (NHAI) and Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

While referring to videos of huge numbers of timber logs washed down the hills by flood waters in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the CJI told Solicitor General that it is a serious issue.

The top court gave two weeks time to the Centre and the state governments to file their responses.

The plea alleged illegal felling of trees as a key reason for such disasters. The bench listed the plea filed by an Anamika Rana for hearing after two weeks and asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ensure remedial measures.

Notably, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand have been witnessing flash floods and landlsides triggeerd by heavy rainfall and cloudburts. Many people lost their lives in rain-related incidents in these states. Meanwhile, floods have wreaked havoc in Punjab with around 30 people lost their lives and around 1,400 villages have been inundated.