Supreme Court Raises Alarm Over Illegal Tree Felling in Himalayan Region

Concerns Over Environmental Degradation

On Thursday, the Supreme Court expressed serious concerns regarding the widespread illegal logging in the Himalayan region, particularly noting the sight of timber logs floating in floodwaters in Himachal Pradesh, as reported by a legal news source.

A bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Vinod Chandran requested responses from various authorities, including the Union government, the National Disaster Management Authority, and the National Highways Authority of India.

Notices were also sent to the governments of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir in light of recent cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides affecting northern India.

“This is a very serious issue,” the bench remarked, emphasizing the alarming visibility of logs in floodwaters. They warned that if this trend continues, the region could face significant deforestation.

The Chief Justice highlighted the necessity of development but stressed that it should not compromise environmental integrity or human lives, according to reports.

The court was addressing a public interest litigation brought forth by environmentalist Anamika Rana, who raised alarms about ecological harm in the Himalayan area.

Rana informed the bench that approximately 300 individuals were stranded in 14 tunnels between Chandigarh and Manali due to the floods.

She called for the establishment of guidelines and an investigation to avert future ecological crises in the region.

After issuing notices, the bench conveyed to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Union government, that the ecological challenges in the Himalayas are a pressing concern. Mehta concurred, stating that the current situation is unsustainable, remarking, “We are interfering with nature so much that nature is giving back.”

The Supreme Court's remarks come in the wake of rain-related disasters that have claimed around 500 lives across northern states this monsoon season, as reported by another news outlet.

In Himachal Pradesh alone, the death toll reached 182 on Tuesday.

In Punjab, 37 individuals have lost their lives amid the worst flooding the state has seen in nearly four decades.

In Jammu and Kashmir, 132 people have died, with 33 still missing following flash floods triggered by a cloudburst on August 14.