The Supreme Court stated that Himachal Pradesh faces a “serious existential crisis”. The court asked the state government to respond to issues relating to ecological and environmental conditions, including tourism, multi-storey buildings, zoning, forest cover, compensatory afforestation, climate change, disaster management, road construction, hydroelectric projects, mining, and use of heavy machinery.
After considering a questionnaire submitted by amicus curiae K Parameshwar on ecological imbalance in the hill state, a Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta asked the Himachal Pradesh Forest Secretary to file a comprehensive affidavit by October 28, the next hearing date.
“The questionnaire, so submitted by the learned amicus curiae, is exhaustive and the answers thereto will be essential for carrying the matter forward. These responses will assist the court in arriving at a considered decision for the purpose of framing guidelines/measures to protect the citizens at large and the fragile ecological system in Himachal,” the Bench said.
The court sought details of hotels, industries, and short-term rental accommodations for which the state granted permissions over the past 10 years. It also asked for measures taken to regulate tourism, especially during the peak monsoon season.
Additionally, the Bench asked for the number of ongoing and pending mining operations/leases, the total number of rivers, and the hydroelectric projects on each river with their start dates. Details of state and national highways, including the number of four-lane highways, were also sought.
The order stems from a suo motu PIL concerning Himachal Pradesh’s ecological and environmental conditions. The state has faced severe natural disasters in recent years.
Earlier, on July 28, the Supreme Court expressed serious concerns over the ecological imbalance and warned that the entire state could vanish from India’s map if unregulated development continued.
On August 25, the Himachal Government admitted that “there are shortcomings in the existing measures” to tackle the ecological imbalance and requested six months to prepare a roadmap. In its affidavit, the state emphasised the need to identify shortcomings and formulate a comprehensive action plan to address disasters witnessed in recent years and future challenges.
The court had earlier said, “We want to impress upon the state government and (the) Union of India that earning revenue is not everything. Revenue cannot be earned at the cost of the environment and the ecology. If things proceed, the way they are as on date, then the day is not far when the entire state of Himachal Pradesh may vanish in thin air from the map of the country.”
“God forbid this doesn’t happen. Therefore, it is of utmost necessity that adequate steps are taken at the earliest in the right direction,” it had said.
This warning came while dismissing an appeal by M/s Pristine Hotels and Resorts Pvt. Ltd against the High Court’s decision upholding the June 6, 2025 notification, which denied permission for hotel construction at Shri Tara Mata Hill, a declared green area where private construction is prohibited.
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