Supreme Court flags ecological imbalance in Himachal Pradesh, warns state may 'vanish in thin air

New Delhi: Raising serious concern on the issue of ecological imbalance in Himachal Pradesh, the Supreme Court has said that the day is not far when the entire state may vanish in thin air from the map of the country and “God forbid this doesn’t happen”.

A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said, “The situation in the state of Himachal Pradesh has gone from bad to worse. The severe ecological imbalance and other environmental conditions have led to serious natural calamities over a period of years”.

The court directed its registry to lodge a writ petition in public interest in this regard.

"We expect the state to file an appropriate reply explaining whether they have any action plan to meet with the issues and what do they propose to do in future. Issue notice to the state for this limited purpose, returnable within 4 weeks. By the next date, we want an appropriate report from the State." it said.

The court fixed the matter for further hearing on August 25.

In its July 28 order, the court noted, this year also hundreds of people perished in the floods and landslides and thousands of properties got destroyed.

"The nature definitely is annoyed with the activities which are going on in the State of HP," the court felt.

The bench said climate change is having a visible and alarming impact on Himachal Pradesh. The bench said the state has been witnessing rising average temperatures, shifting snowfall patterns, and an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.

“Glaciers, the primary source of many rivers in the region, are retreating at a concerning rate, raising the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods,” it said.

The bench said the biggest Bara Shigri glacier in Lahaul Spiti has been reduced by almost 2-2.5 kilometers and unseasonal rainfall and prolonged dry spells affect agriculture and water availability.

“Erratic weather patterns also destabilize slopes and affect biodiversity. These changes threaten not only the environment but also the livelihoods of local communities dependent on farming, horticulture, and eco-tourism deforestation and forest degradation are major concerns," the bench said.

The court noted all development-related projects often resulted in tree felling and habitat fragmentation and loss of forest cover.

It not only reduces biodiversity but also weakens the soil, increasing the risk of landslides and erosion.

“Forests in Himachal also play a vital role in regulating local climate, sequestering carbon, and maintaining the water cycle, making their protection essential for the region's ecological balance. This situation has been exacerbated by the removal of forest guard check posts earlier set up at various places within the State. Removal of such posts, even at the inter-district level, has compounded the problem of illegal felling of trees, which appears to be rampant, as evident in the recent cloud bursts in district Kullu & Manali, and now there is no mechanism of control and checks on the exploitation of this precious resource,” the bench said.

The court said it wanted to impress upon the state and Union governments 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. God forbid this doesn’t happen," the bench said.

The court sS dealing with a petition against an order of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which refused to entertain a plea challenging the state's June 2025 notification declaring certain areas as "green areas".

The court also declined to interfere with the high court's order.

“The obvious reason for issuing the notification which was made a subject matter of challenge before the High Court was to curb the construction activities etc in a particular area. The object of issuing such notifications declaring certain earmarked areas as green areas is definitely a laudable object but we are afraid to say that it is too late in the day for the State to issue such notifications and try to save the situation," the bench said.

The court pointed out the state is nestled in the lap of Himalayan mountains and it is important to seek the opinion of geologists, environmental experts and locals before any development project is undertaken there.

The bench said taking advantage of the state's natural beauty, the government started constructing four-lane roads to promote it as a tourist destination.

"With forests encompassing more than 66 per cent of the total land area, Himachal Pradesh is renowned for its abundant beauty and greenery. But the danger to this natural richness is growing as a result of human greed and apathy," it said.

The court also highlighted there are numerous environment related issues, direct or indirect, facing the State of HP.

It said because of its delicate mountainous geography, the State is at risk for earthquakes, flash floods, and landslides. With projects like Bhakra, Nathpa Jhakri, and several other projects set up on major rivers, i.e. Beas, Sutlej, Chenab, Ravi, Yamuna, both in the public and private sectors, is also a major hydroelectric power hub that makes a substantial contribution to India's renewable energy, it said.

The bench said unrelenting building, tunnel and road construction, frequently done without sufficient environmental planning, has increased the area's susceptibility to natural disasters and effects of climate change.

The court felt the Centre also owes an obligation to see that ecological imbalance in the state does not get further disturbed and natural calamities do not occur.

"Of course, much damage has been caused but there is a saying that 'something is better than nothing'," the bench said.