In a scathing rebuke, the Supreme Court has lambasted the central and Uttarakhand governments over their handling of the ongoing forest fire crisis in the state. The court raised pointed questions regarding the lack of adequate funding and the diversion of forest guards to election duties amidst the state’s struggle to contain hundreds of active wildfires.
Expressing dismay at the “sorry state of affairs,” the court questioned why the state had been granted a mere Rs 3.15 crore, significantly lower than the demanded Rs 10 crore, to combat the fires. Moreover, it criticized the decision to assign forest officials to election-related responsibilities instead of prioritizing firefighting efforts.
This isn’t the first time such concerns have been raised. Earlier, activists had criticized the state for downplaying the severity of the wildfires and highlighted the challenges faced by firefighters, often lacking proper equipment.
During the hearing, the state assured that forest officials assigned to polling booths had been returned to their primary roles following instructions from the Chief Secretary. However, the court remained unimpressed, denouncing the excuses and labeling the situation as regrettable.
The Supreme Court’s intervention comes in the wake of a petition urging the BJP-led government to intensify firefighting efforts. The court dismissed reliance on natural factors like rain or cloud seeding and emphasized the need for proactive measures.
The state government has defended its response, asserting that only a small fraction of the forest cover has been affected by the fires. It also claimed to have both short- and long-term plans in place to address the crisis, including measures to curb waste burning near forests.
Despite some relief brought by a recent cloudburst, which extinguished some fires, challenges persist. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami affirmed the government’s commitment to tackling the situation, vowing action against those responsible for igniting fires.
Amidst the crisis, legal action has been initiated against individuals implicated in starting fires, under the Indian Forest Act. The severity of the situation was underscored last month when a fire threatened a residential colony for High Court judges near Nainital, prompting swift intervention from the Army and forest officials.
As Uttarakhand grapples with the devastating consequences of rampant wildfires, the Supreme Court’s scrutiny underscores the urgency of addressing the crisis effectively and ensuring accountability for those responsible.
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