The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would hear on April 14 a
plea concerning forest fires in Uttarakhand after the state said it has taken
steps to prevent such incidents.
The counsel appearing for the Uttarakhand government informed a
bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih that meetings were held
on the issue and a proposal was sent to the Union Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change.
When the bench said the summer season, during which incidents of
forest fires are frequently reported, was approaching, the state's counsel said
steps have been taken to prevent such incidents.
"He (state's counsel) says there is some development,"
the bench told the applicant who has raised the issue of forest fires in
Uttarakhand.
"We will have it on April 14," the bench said.
It asked the counsel appearing for the Union environment
ministry to take instructions in the matter.
The bench expressed the hope that the funds allocated for
dealing with and preventing forest fires "would be used for useful
purposes and not on iPhones".
In a separate matter, the apex court on March 5 had taken
exception to the alleged misuse of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund
Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds by the state of Uttarakhand to
purchase laptops, iPhones, fridges among other items and directed the chief
secretary to file an affidavit.
On March 19, the Uttarakhand government informed the top court
that the majority of the CAMPA funds were spent on forestation activities and
preservation.
The state government, however, had said a certain amount was
used by forest department officials for furniture at their homes aside from an
iPhone worth Rs 53,000 and two laptops.
It assured departmental action against the officials concerned.
Taking note of the affidavit filed by the state's chief
secretary, the apex court had said it does not propose to proceed any further
in the matter.
In the matter relating to forest fires in Uttarakhand, the apex
court had in July last year said authorities must put everything in place
before the next season to prevent forest fires in the state.