Uttarakhand government today told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that they would file within two days a "consolidated reply" on the issuse of forest fires which razed in various parts of the state.
"Counsel appearing for the state of Uttarakhand submits that their consolidated reply-affidavit is ready and would be filed within two days from today. Liberty is granted. Let copies of the same be provided to all the counsel appearing for the parties who may file the rejoinder thereto within two weeks thereafter," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh government told the bench that they would file their reply on the issue within one week.
The green panel accepted the contention and said that rejoinder, if any, be filed before the next date of hearing on May 27.
Earlier, the NGT had voiced concern over the forest fires raging in the two states and observed that it was shocked that everybody was taking the issue "so casually".
The bench had also directed both the states to inform it about the preventive steps taken by them prior to the fire incident and also about the forest management plans.
Massive forest fires had recently engulfed large parts of Uttarakhand and parts of Himachal Pradesh.
Forest area of over 3000 hectares have been blighted in Uttarakhand due to the fire.
