The National Green Tribunal issued notice to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Wednesday, asking for its response to the forest fires in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh by May 10 — the next date of hearing.
A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar had issued showcause notices to both the States on Tuesday, observing it was shocked at the issue being taken ‘so casually’.
During the hearing on Wednesday, the advocate for the petitioner told the Bench that the forest fires in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh had reached Jammu and Kashmir too.
The counsel said that this forest fire was an annual affair, but no one did anything about it. “This is a disaster for the environment. The forest areas are under grave threat and the authorities are not doing anything. There is gross negligence,” said the counsel. He added that these fires were causing air pollution and impacting glaciers. Forest area of over 3,000 hectares has been impacted in Uttarakhand due to the fire.
Forest area of over 3,000 hectares has been impacted
