The Supreme Court on Wednesday set a date for hearing a plea related to forest fires in Uttarakhand, emphasizing the importance of utilizing funds effectively for prevention rather than on extraneous items like iPhones. The hearing is scheduled for April 14, as the state gears up for the upcoming summer season when forest fires are notably rampant.
During the session, the counsel for the Uttarakhand government reported to Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih that proactive steps had been taken following discussions and a proposal forwarded to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. This development comes in response to increasing concerns about the frequency and intensity of forest fires in the region.
The bench highlighted the need for responsible management of allocated funds. “We hope that the funds allocated for dealing with and preventing forest fires would be used for useful purposes and not on iPhones,” the Justices remarked. This comment follows a prior incident where the court took issue with the alleged misuse of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds by Uttarakhand officials for personal electronics and furniture.
Previously, on March 5, the Supreme Court criticized the state for inappropriately using CAMPA funds to purchase laptops, iPhones, and other personal items, prompting a directive for the chief secretary of Uttarakhand to submit an affidavit. Subsequently, on March 19, the state government clarified that while a majority of the funds were directed towards afforestation and preservation efforts, some misuse by officials for personal gains was acknowledged, leading to promises of departmental action.
