Top court's notice to Centre, States on floods, tree felling

As severe floods ravage several north Indian states and the national capital, the Supreme Court on Thursday flagged the unchecked illegal felling of trees, noting that laws are being openly violated, and sent notices to the Centre and four states.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the flooding and illegal tree felling in the hills, the top court stressed that development and environmental protection must be balanced. "We have seen unprecedented rains and flooding. We issue notice to the states of Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. Prima facie, it appears that illegal felling of trees has taken place," Chief Justice BR Gavai said, adding, "it appears to be a very serious issue."

The bench of CJI Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran pointed to media reports showing that a large number of wooden blocks are floating in rivers in Himachal. The court further asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to seek instructions to address the issue, and directed the government to reply to the notice within three weeks.

During the hearing, the Solicitor General remarked, “Unfortunately, we have played with nature too much... now it is hitting back.”

The north Indian states, to which the Supreme Court issued notice, are in the grip of a severe crisis triggered by an unusually intense and prolonged monsoon. The season has unleashed widespread floods, devastating landslides, and relentless rainfall across the region.

Delhi, meanwhile, is grappling with urban flooding and severe waterlogging. The Yamuna has breached the danger mark following continuous discharge from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana, submerging low-lying areas, displacing thousands, and forcing the closure of critical infrastructure.