Srinagar: The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed deep concern over rising flash floods and landslides across the Himalayan states, pointing to visuals of timber floating downstream as prima facie evidence of rampant illegal tree felling.
A bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation on environmental degradation, issued notices to the Union Environment and Jal Shakti Ministries, the National Disaster Management Authority, the National Highways Authority of India, and the governments of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab, Hindustan Times reported.
“In the flood, huge number of wooden logs were flowing around. Prima facie, it appears that illegal felling of trees has been going on up hills,” the bench observed. The Chief Justice underlined that “development must be balanced with environmental protection,” warning that reckless interference with natural systems had triggered “catastrophic consequences.”
According to news agency KNO, the inclusion of J&K in the notices reflects the court’s concern that the crisis is not confined to Himachal and Uttarakhand alone. Environmentalists noted that north Kashmir and the Pir Panjal belt have also faced recurring deforestation and timber smuggling, making the region equally vulnerable to floods and mudslides.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court he would coordinate with the Environment Ministry and state administrations to put remedial measures in place without delay, The Economic Times reported.
The petition, filed by activist Anamika Rana through lawyer Akash Vashishtha, has sought a special investigation team, a disaster-prevention plan, and an expert panel to examine the ecological toll of infrastructure projects in fragile mountain zones. Counsel for the petitioner also flagged risks posed by tunnels along the Chandigarh–Manali highway, recalling an incident in which 300 people were stranded during a landslide.
The case has been listed for further hearing in two weeks.
