The Uttarakhand High Court has continued its scrutiny of the state’s recurring forest fire crisis, directing noted environmental expert Professor Ajay Rawat to join the proceedings via video conferencing and provide his opinion on preventive and long-term ecological measures. The next hearing has been scheduled for November 28.
The matter is being heard through a cluster of suo motu public interest litigations registered by the court under the title “In the Matter of Forest Area, Forest Health, and Wildlife Conservation.” The petitions highlight the rise in forest fire incidents across the state and allege that the government has not adopted adequate steps to control the situation despite guidelines issued in 2016.
During the joint hearing, the division bench of Chief Justice G Narendra and Justice Subhash Upadhyay issued a series of directives aimed at strengthening the state’s response and preparedness. The judges asked the government to:
- Fill all vacant posts in the Forest Department within six months
- Empower gram panchayats to participate in forest management
- Ensure year-round monitoring of vulnerable forest zones
The bench also sought clarity on whether inducing artificial rain was feasible in Uttarakhand’s geographical and climatic conditions, signalling the court’s willingness to explore unconventional firefighting strategies.
Earlier, the High Court had directed the state government to file a comprehensive action plan within two weeks. Petitioners pointed out that while helicopters were being deployed to extinguish fires, the operation was expensive and not entirely efficient. The petitions suggested that village-level committees, trained and equipped to respond promptly, would make for a more sustainable approach.
The court noted that it had repeatedly urged the state to form such committees and take proactive steps to reduce the risk of fires rather than merely responding to outbreaks.
With Professor Ajay Rawat now asked to assist the court as an expert, the bench indicated that its next round of deliberations will focus on practical implementation measures rather than broad policy statements. The court will resume hearing the matter on November 28.
