Shocking to see everyone taking forest fires so casually: NGT

Responding to the query, the ministry’s counsel said that entire team of officials concerned was working on the issues and IAF helicopters have also been deployed in the ongoing firefighting operations.

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The bench asked the Uttarakhand and Himachal governments how prepared they were to deal with the fires that have been raging for over a week.

EXPRESSING CONCERN about forest fires raging in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, the National Green Tribunal Tuesday said it was shocked that everybody was taking the issue “so casually” and issued showcause notices to both the states.

The Principal Bench asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests what measures it has taken to control the situation. “What have you (ministry) done regarding the fire? It shocks us. Everybody is taking it so casually,” the bench said.

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Responding to the query, the ministry’s counsel said that entire team of officials concerned was working on the issues and IAF helicopters have also been deployed in the ongoing firefighting operations.

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The bench asked the Uttarakhand and Himachal governments how prepared they were to deal with the fires that have been raging for over a week.

“Issue notices to the states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh to show cause about the forest fires that have occurred in both the states,” the bench said.

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