सव भव तु सिखनः ु highlighted various accidents on the Rishikesh-Dharsau sec on of NH-94, primarily due to landslides and heavy rainfall. It pointed out the fragile geology and topography of U arakhand, which made the region prone to natural disasters such as landslides, rockfalls, slope failures, land subsidence, flash floods, cloud bursts, and avalanches. To address these concerns, consultancy firms had iden fied landslide-prone loca ons, which were subsequently targeted for treatment under the Chardham Programme. It was further revealed that during the execu on of the Chardham Programme, new landslides had developed along the Na onal Highways. In response to this, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways cons tuted a Commi ee consis ng of senior officers from various agencies, including the Ministry itself, the State PWD U arakhand, the Border Road Organisa on, the Na onal Highways Infrastructures Development Corpora on Limited, and the Geological Survey of India. This Commi ee was tasked with formula ng a strategy for mi ga ng landslides in U arakhand. Furthermore, given the fragile Himalayan geology, the Geological Survey of India was engaged to conduct landslide suscep bility mapping of the Na onal Highways being developed under the Chardham Programme, including the RishikeshDharsu sec on of NH-94. The report emphasised that such disasters were not limited to the Na onal Highways but were a statewide issue due to tectonic ac vity, lithological varia ons, structural factors, ecological condi ons, topography, and changing landscapes. It was also noted that affected families in accidents resul ng from natural disasters, such as heavy torren al rainfall and landslides, received compensa on from the U arakhand State Disaster Management Authority. Moreover, the EPC Contractors involved in the Chardham Programme had obtained insurance coverage for the en re project sec on to address damages caused by such disasters. These insurance claims were intended to provide relief to the affected families. In a proceeding dated 20 September 2021, the Commission considered the ma er and directed the Registry to share a copy of the report received from the Assistant Execu ve Engineer, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, New Delhi, with the complainant, reques ng his comments and replies within four weeks. If no response was received from the complainant within the Chapter 7 - Thematic Areas s pulated meframe, the case would be determined based on its merits and available documents. Subsequently, the Commission did not receive any comments from the complainant. It was assumed that the complainant had no further input on the ma er. Given the comprehensive report that emphasised the widespread nature of such disasters in U arakhand and the compensa on mechanisms in place, the Commission closed the case on 17 October 2022. 2.) Pollu on generated by a paper mill which is not adhering to the pollu on norms in district Saharanpur, Utar Pradesh (Case No. 27652/24/64/2022) The complaint was received which states that one Star Paper Mill situated at Tapri Nagal Road was pollu ng the area and created havoc for the residents in the district of Saharanpur. It was alleged that the sail mill did not follow the pollu on norms and regula ons, it was also using dilapidated machinery and building, which was dangerous and caused health side- effects on the workers. The Commission took cognizance in the ma er and called for reports from the authori es from the said district. The Commission, in the report received, observed that the show cause no ce was issued against the M/s Star Papers Mills and proceedings u/s 33A of Water (Prevenon and Control of Pollu on) Act, 1974, was recommended regarding environmental compensa on. In the reports submi ed by the UPPCB, it was revealed that the quan ty of colour, charter of water and pollu on preven on in pulp and paper industries were all found in much more than permissible limits. The Commission considered the reports. The complainant alleged that Star Paper Mill, Tapri Nagar Road, Saharanpur, engaged in pollu on, affec ng the lives of residents of the area. The Commission no ced that the report submi ed by the authori es revealed that environmental compensa on of Rs. 30,000/- per day was recommended from 03 August 2022 against Ms. Star Paper Mills Ltd. Saharanpur ll the remedial ac on was taken by the Mill. The subsequent inspec ons conducted on 24 August 2022, 17 September 2022, 09 November 2022 and 19 November 2022 revealed that the quan ty of colour, water, air, pulp and papers were found within the permissible limits. There was no substan al increase in the pollu on noted when 57