Supreme Court directs Uttarakhand to repair Corbett Tiger Reserve damage & demolish illegal structures

The article details the Supreme Court’s forceful directions to the Uttarakhand government to restore environmental damage inflicted in the Corbett Tiger Reserve due to unauthorized constructions, illegal tree felling, and misuse of forest land. The Court ordered the demolition of unlawful structures, fixing accountability of officers responsible, and immediate ecological restoration. Citing Articles 48A and 51A(g), the Court emphasized that environmental preservation supersedes commercial interests and tourism pressures. It criticized the State for failing in its constitutional duty and sought periodic compliance reports. The judgment strengthens environmental jurisprudence and signals that ecological violations in protected areas will attract strict judicial scrutiny.