SC to pass order on ecological imbalance in state on Sept 23

The Supreme Court on Monday said it will pass an order on September 23 on a suo motu PIL on issues relating to ecological and environmental conditions prevailing in Himachal Pradesh that has been at the receiving end of nature’s fury in recent years.

“List on September 23 for order. We will give you a brief order after summarising everything so that you can get specific instructions,” a Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta told Himachal Pradesh Advocate General Anup Kumar Rattan and Additional Advocate General Vaibhav Srivastava. The Bench indicated it intended to expand the scope and ambit of the PIL to the entire Himalayan region. “This is not going to be limited to Himachal only…The entire Himalayan region…,” Justice Mehta said.

The order came after amicus curiae K Parameshwar pointed out there were certain issues with the state government’s affidavit as it suggested setting up a committee to look into various aspects of the problem without getting into specifics.

The Supreme Court had on July 28 warned the entire state may vanish in thin air, if unregulated development continues.

Acknowledging “there are shortcomings in the existing measures” to deal with ecological imbalance in the state, the Himachal Pradesh Government had on August 25 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, respectively, that earning revenue is not everything. Revenue cannot be earned at the cost of the environment and ecology. If things proceed, the way they are as on date, then the day is not far when the entire State of HP 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 Pradesh Government’s June 6, 2025 notification that formed the basis of denial of permission to it construct a hotel at Shri Tara Mata Hill — declared a “Green Area,” by the said notification prohibiting all private construction on the site.

Faced with the SC’s warning, the state government had defended construction of hydro power projects in the state, terming them a cleaner alternative to fossil fuel-based thermal power projects.

In an affidavit filed in the SC in response to the suo motu PIL on ecological imbalance and the court’s concern regarding “destruction” caused by hydro power projects, the state government said its economy depended on hydro power projects and tourism.