Existential crisis: Supreme Court seeks detailed response from Himachal Govt by October 28

The Supreme Court on Tuesday noted that Himachal Pradesh faced a “serious existential crisis” and 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 plan, construction of roads, hydroelectric projects, mining and use of heavy machinery.

After considering a questionnaire submitted by amicus curiae K Parameshwar on various issues of ecological imbalance in the state, a Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta asked the Himachal Pradesh Forest Secretary to file a detailed affidavit by October 28, the next date of hearing.

“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 Bench sought the details of hotels, industries, short-term rental accommodations for which the state had granted permissions over the past 10 years and measures, if any, employed by the state to regulate tourist activities, especially during the peak monsoon season.

It also sought the details of the number of mining operations/leases at present ongoing in the state and those which are pending approval as on date and the total number of rivers in the state and the number of hydroelectric projects operating on each river along with the date of their commencement and the particulars of state highways and national highways with specific details on the number of highways that have four lanes.

The order came on a suo motu PIL on issues relating to ecological and environmental conditions prevailing in Himachal that has been at the receiving end of the nature’s fury in recent years.

The Supreme Court had on July 28 expressed serious concerns over the ecological imbalance in Himachal Pradesh and warned that the entire state may vanish in thin air from the map of India, if unregulated development continues unabated.

The Himachal Government had on August 25 acknowledged that “there are shortcomings in the existing measures” to deal with the ecological imbalance in the state and sought “at least six months” from the top court to prepare a roadmap.

In an affidavit filed in the top court, the state government emphasised “the need for their (shortcomings’) identification, along with the formulation of a comprehensive future action plan to effectively address the disastrous situations witnessed in recent years as well as the continuing challenges”.

“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,” the top court had said on July 28.

“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, dismissing an appeal filed by M/s Pristine Hotels and Resorts Pvt. Ltd against the High Court’s decision upholding the Himachal Government’s notification of June 6, 2025, that formed the basis of denial of permission for the construction of a hotel at Shri Tara Mata Hill — declared a “green area” by the said notification prohibiting all private construction.