Nature-man conflict leading to natural disasters in mountainous regions, says Justice Surya Kant

A Supreme Court Judge, Justice Surya Kant, today said that the conflict between man and the nature was one of the main reasons for the increasing frequency of natural disasters, especially in the mountainous regions, and experts should examine it to find solutions.

Justice Suryakant was the chief guest at a function organised by the Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority in Mandi today. He also interacted with the disaster-affected families, especially from Mandi and Kullu districts.

Justice Surya Kant said, “The conflict between man and the nature is having an adverse impact on the ecology due to the felling of trees, blocked water channels and construction in catchment areas that have obstructed the natural flow of water. This obviously has had a negative impact, triggering natural disasters.” He added that there was an urgent need to look into reasons for the increasing frequency of natural disasters like flashfloods, cloudbursts and landslides.

He said, “I was keen to share the grief of the families, which had lost a family member or had suffered massive damage during natural disasters in the recent monsoon season. I have come here not as a judge but as your family member.”

Justice Surya Kant expressed concern over rising drug addiction among the youth and sought the cooperation of villagers, who had information about people indulging in drug trafficking, so that this social evil could be curbed.

Justice Surya Kant urged the panchayat pradhans and other prominent people to seek the help of the police, Legal Services Authority and volunteers in combating the drug menace. He said that retired Army personnel could play an effective role in the fight against drugs. “I also pray to parents whose children have unfortunately fallen prey to drugs to not hide the problem but counsel their children with love and affection,” he added.

He said that all possible legal help and counselling should be extended to the families of serving and retired Army personnel. He added that legal aid must be extended to all such families under the Veer Parivar Sahatya Yojana launched earlier this year.

Justice Surya Kant said that though governments extend help to disaster-affected people, at times there was an inordinate delay in the relief reaching them. “The help that is being given to you is not a favour but your right and paralegal volunteers must guide and help all such families that are not aware about the relief schemes of the government,” he added.

The Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, Justice GS Sandhawalia, also stressed the need to combat the drug menace and environmental degradation that was resulting in devastating natural disasters, especially in all hill states. Justice Vivek Singh Thakur, who is also the Chairperson of the Himachal Pradesh Legal Services Authority, said that curbing the drug menace was not only the responsibility of the police but also the entire society. All judges of the High Court and judicial officers from the State Legal Services Authority attended the function.