Uttarakhand HC declares Gangotri & Yamunotri Glaciers as Living Human Entities

After bestowing the status of living entities to Ganga and Yamuna rivers, the Uttarakhand High Court has now declared Gaga and Yamunotri glaciers as ‘living human entities’. With this several rivers, streams, rivulets, streams, lakes, springs, waterfalls, air, meadows, valleys, jungles, forest wetlands and grasslands falling under his area will also enjoy the rights of a human as they will come in the same category. Paying heed to the melting caps of Gangotri and Yamunotri glaciers, Justice Rajeev Sharma and Alok Sharma passed the decision on Friday.

The court emphasized on the current scenario of the Gangotri and Yamnotri glaciers, saying, “Gangotri is one of the largest glaciers in the Himalayas. However, it is receding fast. In over 25 years, it has retreated more than 850 meters. Yamunotri Glacier is also receding at an alarming rate. Glacial Ice is the largest reservoir of fresh water on earth”.

High Court directed the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand to select 7 representatives to form a committee to protect the rights of those living near the lakes, glaciers and the banks of rivers. In addition to this, the Court further ordered to complete the tender process of 10 crematoriums within eight weeks and also complete the code formalities of 40 more towns nestled on the banks of river Ganga.

Since Gangotri and Yamunotri glaciers will now be treated as humans any harm caused to them will be taken seriously and strong action will be taken against the violator, for which the Chief Secretary Uttarakhand, Director of Namami Gange Project, Praveen Kumar, Legal Advisor of Namami Gange Project, Ishwar Singh, Director Academics of Chandigarh Judicial Academy, Balram K Gupta and Senior Advocate of Supreme Court, MC Mehta will act as the legal guardians or human face for the glaciers.

Src: financialexpress.com