“Existential Crisis In Himalayas”: Supreme Court Poses Queries To Himachal Govt On Zoning, Deforestation, Mining, Constructions, Etc
The Supreme Court directed the State of Himachal Pradesh to file comprehensive and verified responses on a wide range of issues concerning its fragile ecology and environmental conditions, in the wake of unprecedented monsoon rains that wreaked havoc across the State earlier this year.
The order was passed on September 23, in Suo Motu case initiated by the Court following the widespread devastation of lives and properties caused by flash floods and landslides.
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta noted that the State, and the Himalayan region as a whole, was facing a “serious existential crisis” as unregulated development activities compounded natural vulnerabilities. The Court had earlier remarked that “humans, not nature” were responsible for recurring landslides, collapsing buildings, and sinking roads, with factors such as hydropower projects, four-lane highways, deforestation, and multi-storey constructions contributing significantly to the disaster.
Recently, the CJI-led bench had taken cognizance of videos showing wooden logs floating in flood waters, which indicated carrying out of illegal tree cutting in the Himachal mountains.
Questionnaire Based On Amicus Report
Earlier, on August 25, the Court had appointed Senior Advocate K. Parameshwar as amicus curiae, assisted by Advocate Akashi Lodha. After examining the State's interim report, the amicus prepared a detailed questionnaire covering ecological and developmental concerns, which the Court has now adopted in full.
The Court has sought precise information on:
• Zoning: Criteria for zoning (seismic activity, landslide zones, eco-sensitivity), and whether eco-sensitive zones have been notified across protected areas.
• Forests and Tree Cover: Year-wise details of forest diversion for non-forest use in the last 20 years, change in forest cover, species data, and large-scale tree-felling permissions.
• Compensatory Afforestation: Number of trees planted in the last two decades, survival rates, and utilisation of afforestation funds.
• Climate Change: The State's climate change policy, glacier retreat studies, and future impact projections.
• Roads: Number of four-lane highways, data on landslides along them, and remedial measures undertaken.
• Hydroelectric Projects: Number of rivers hosting projects, and cumulative impact studies post-completion.
• Mining and Heavy Machinery: Status of mining leases and protocols on explosives and heavy equipment.
• Tourism and Constructions: Permissions for hotels and rental accommodations, restrictions on multi-storey constructions, and prosecutions under the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act, 1977.
The Bench directed the Himachal Pradesh Government to submit its complete responses, supported by an affidavit of the Principal Secretary, Department of Forest, before the next hearing on October 28, 2025.
IN RE: ISSUES RELATING TO ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS PREVAILING IN THE STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH | Writ Petition (Civil) No. 758 of 2025