Himachal Monsoon fury: NGT impleads state officials, seeks accountability
Shimla, Jan 2,
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently took suo moto cognizance of media reports regarding the monsoon disaster in Himachal Pradesh. In an order issued on December 20, 2023, the NGT decided to implead a battery of state bureaucracy officials as party, including the Chief Secretary, Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Principal Secretary for Town and Country Planning, Additional Chief Secretary for Forest or Environment, and Director of Mining or Industries.
Advocate General Anoop Rattan, replying to the NGT’s PIL, mentioned that units engaged in illegal mining have been identified, and their operations suspended. He also informed the tribunal about the issue of indiscriminate construction in District Solan, pending before the Himachal Pradesh High Court in another PIL.
The NGT observed that no environmental compensation has been imposed on identified violators, applying the principle of “Polluter Pays,” and no punitive or preventive action has been taken under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
In its eight-page order, the NGT expressed dissatisfaction with the steps taken by the government to prevent illegal deforestation and mining, as reported in the media. The matter was posted until February 29, 2024, with a directive for state officials to submit their replies within two months.
The NGT highlighted that it initiated suo moto cognizance based on a media report published on November 25, 2023, nearly two months after the rain fury. The media report attributed the devastation in Himachal Pradesh to factors such as deforestation, ill-planned construction, and illegal mining along riverbeds.
It is noteworthy that the state witnessed massive devastation during the monsoon, with media attributing the damage to poorly planned and unscientific mining, particularly along four lanes and the National Highway. The NHAI’s cutting of hills at a 90-degree angle in many places disrupted the National Highway for almost two months.
Notably, despite damages to Union government projects like hydropower, dams, and National Highway, the center, NHAI, and power companies have not been impleaded parties in the matter as of now.
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