The Supreme Court has expressed deep concern over the damage to the environment due to unbridled development in Himachal Pradesh. The court has warned that if this continues, Himachal will one day disappear from the map. The court, taking self -cognizance of the case, has sought a report from the state government in 4 weeks. The state government will have to tell what steps it has taken for environmental protection and what is the plan about the future. The next hearing of the case will be on 25 August.
The bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan gave this order, dismissing the petition of a company named Prisin Hotels and Resorts Private Limited. The company challenged the notification of June 2025, in which Shri Tara Mata Hill was declared a green area. The company wanted to build a hotel there. But construction has been banned from declaration of green sector. Now the Supreme Court has also declared the notification of the state government as correct.
Good step to declare sensitive areas as green area: SC
The court said that it is a good step to declare sensitive areas as green areas according to the environment. But such steps have been taken very little and very late in the state. The court said, “The situation in Himachal Pradesh is deteriorating. Nature is angry with human activities. The sliding of the mountains, the fall of houses, the road collapsing, all is the result of this. This year too, thousands of houses were destroyed due to floods and landslides. Hundreds of people were killed.”
Disasters like landslides, floods and earthquakes man -made: SC
The court said that disasters like landslides, floods and earthquakes are man -made in Himachal. Four lane roads are being built without scientific studies and hydro power projects are being seen. Trees are being cut for them. The mountains are being flown with gunpowder. Just earning revenue is not everything. At the cost of destruction of the environment, such earnings will end the existence of Himachal.