Rush Hour: SC flags ‘illegal’ tree cutting amid floods, Kuki groups renew government pact & more

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Expressing concern about timber logs floating in floodwaters in Himachal Pradesh, the Supreme Court has said that “illegal” felling of trees appears to be rampant in the Himalayan region. “If this goes on, we will not have any forests left,” remarked Chief Justice BR Gavai.

The court sought responses about this from the Centre and the governments of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, amid the recent cloudbursts, flash floods and landslips in these states.

Rain-related disasters have claimed approximately 500 lives in the northern states this monsoon.

In Himachal Pradesh alone, the toll reached 182 on Tuesday. Punjab has reported 37 deaths amid the worst floods in the state in the last four decades. In Jammu and Kashmir, 132 persons have died and 33 are missing. Read more.

The Centre and the Manipur government have signed an agreement with Kuki-Zo groups to renew the Suspension of Operation pact with revised rules. The Kuki-Zo groups have agreed to maintain the territorial integrity of Manipur under the re-negotiated rules and also open National Highway-2.

Under the Suspension of Operations agreement, the security forces as well as the militant...

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