SC to consider PIL for steps to prevent wild fires in Uttarakhand

Dehradun, June 19: With massive forest fires, as many as 79 reported only in the month of May, burning wildlife in Uttarakhand, the Supreme Court today agreed to hear a PIL which prays that entire wildlife in the region be declared a living entity with corresponding rights and the government be directed to take steps to prevent wildfires. The PIL has been filed by advocate Rituparn Uniyal, a native of Tehri Garhwal in Uttarakhand.

 

While posting the matter for hearing on Monday, Justice Deepak Gupta, who was heading the bench, orally remarked that in the meantime, one can pray for rains as that is the only solution and no order of the court can help.

This year, in the months of April and May 1493 incidents of forest fires have been reported and vast hectares of reserved forest area was adversely affected. He cites another media report according to which Uttarakhand has lost 44,000 hectares of forest covers to fire which is roughly equivalent to 61,000 football fields ever since the year 2000 when it was conferred Statehood.

Thus, in order to protect and promote greater welfare of animals including avian and aquatic, animals are required to be conferred with the status of legal entity/ legal person.