Environment in peril

The climatic upheaval in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand is a result of human greed that has converted mountains and forests into concrete jungles. The respective governments cannot escape responsibility as all necessary NOCs for construction are given by its own departments. Builders, hoteliers and industrialists are encouraged in the name of tourism and their activities go unchecked under the nose of the authorities. There has been no statement from the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on the tragedies. Unfortunately in India, environment protection can never be a top priority because it does not fetch votes. Unless the matter is prioritised and handled in all seriousness, the citizens will remain vulnerable.

Yash Khetarpal, Panchkula

Greed for monetary benefits

Apropos of ‘Firm up action plan to tame flood fury’; recent cloudbursts, landslides and floods have revealed that we have not learned lessons from disasters like the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy. The greed for monetary benefits has resulted in unplanned development and creation of infrastructure without caring for the environment. It is high time we followed the requisite norms for maintaining environmental balance keeping in mind the local topography.

Subhash Vaid, New Delhi

SC upholds green vigilance

Apropos of ‘Green clearance’; the Supreme Court’s verdict quashing the exemption of large-scale construction projects from the Environmental Impact Assessment regime is timely and momentous. The rescinded clause excluded buildings over 20,000 sq metre from prior environmental scrutiny. Touted as a move to reduce procedural friction and promote industrial ease, it effectively dismantled a crucial safeguard against unchecked development. The court has rightly recognised that environmental diligence is not a dispensable formality but a prerequisite for sustainable growth. The apex court’s intervention restores balance to a process increasingly skewed in favour of expediency over foresight.

Sanjeev Kumar Garg, Rampura Phul

Priority to ecological balance

Refer to ‘Green clearance’; the Supreme Court’s ruling is a strong reaffirmation that environmental concerns cannot be brushed aside for short-term business gains. In a country like India, where there is geographical diversity and varied climatic conditions, the balance between development and sustainability is crucial. The way forward lies in upholding robust environmental laws, streamlining regulatory processes and ensuring strict compliance. Half-hearted efforts and policy loopholes are a recipe for disaster, both for the environment and the economy. The verdict is not only legally binding but also a wake-up call to place the environment at the heart of India’s development journey.

Gaurav Badhwar, Rohtak

US setting disturbing precedent

President Trump’s imposition of an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports on top of the earlier 25% is both unfair and alarming. With around 35 per cent of India’s crude oil now sourced from Russia, this step is driven purely by economic necessity, not politics. Imposing 50 per cent tariff penalises India for prioritising its energy security amid global volatility. Such actions will strain Indo-US relations and set a disturbing precedent. It is essential that India continue to defend its sovereign right to make independent decisions without succumbing to external pressure.

Tanishq Kaur, Patiala

Trump’s own business flourishing

The contrast between Donald Trump’s decisions for his country and his family’s business dealings in India is a clear example of hypocrisy. While Trump criticises India’s trade practices, his own family-run company, The Trump Organisation, is expanding its real estate business in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata and Gurugram at a rapid pace. This situation raises serious questions about his ethics as the President of the most powerful nation in the world. Despite his personal financial interests, he is trying to armtwist India to submit to US hegemony.

Harshita Singla, Rajpura