SC sounds alarm over environmental destruction in Himachal: ‘Day not far when entire state may vanish'
Flagging a range of issues in the ecologically sensitive region, a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan directed the registration of a case in the public interest and sought the Himachal Pradesh government's response within four weeks.
The bench was hearing a hotel group's challenge to a Himachal Pradesh High Court order that restricted constructions in an area declared as a green zone by the state's Town and Country Planning Department in June.
Refusing to interfere with the High Court's decision, the top court said it 'would like to say something in the larger interest of the state of Himachal Pradesh and its inhabitants'.
'…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 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. This year also hundreds of people perished in the floods and landslides & thousands of properties got destroyed,' it said.
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, Himachal Pradesh has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1,539 crore since the onset of monsoon on June 20. So far, 94 people have died and 36 are missing in rain-related incidents while 1,352 houses have been fully or partially damaged.
The court went on to list a number of serious concerns in the Himalayan state — the 'visible' and 'alarming' impact of climate change; deforestation; hydropower projects reportedly causing water shortages and landslides; unchecked tourism affecting the ecological balance and straining resources; and relentless construction of four-lane roads, tunnels and multi-storey buildings to cater to the increasing footfall.
Communities living near hydro-electric projects frequently report water scarcity, landslides, and even structural cracks in their homes, the bench said, adding: 'Apparently, the minimum outflow of water, as is contractually mandated, is not being adhered to by the project proponents, resulting in the vanishing of aquatic life. In fact, the mighty trans Himalayan river Sutlej stands reduced to a rivulet.'
'During peak seasons, the influx of tourists results in traffic congestion, waste generation, noise pollution, overuse of water resources, and encroachment into ecologically sensitive areas. Hill towns often struggle with waste disposal and water shortages during tourist seasons. Every step of the waste management process presents difficulties for the state,' it said.
'The danger to the state's natural richness is growing as a result of human greed and apathy,' it said, calling for immediate, sustainable planning and conservation measures.
The bench said all Himalayan states need to collate resources and expertise to ensure their development plans are cognisant of environmental challenges.
'All that we want to convey today is that it is high time that the state pays attention to what we have observed and starts taking necessary action at the earliest in the right direction. The Union of India also owes an obligation to see that the ecological imbalance in the state does not get further disturbed and natural calamities do not occur.'
'We want to impress upon the State Government and Union of India respectively that earning revenue is not everything. 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,' it said.
Ananthakrishnan G. is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express. He has been in the field for over 23 years, kicking off his journalism career as a freelancer in the late nineties with bylines in The Hindu. A graduate in law, he practised in the District judiciary in Kerala for about two years before switching to journalism. His first permanent assignment was with The Press Trust of India in Delhi where he was assigned to cover the lower courts and various commissions of inquiry.
He reported from the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India during his first stint with The Indian Express in 2005-2006. Currently, in his second stint with The Indian Express, he reports from the Supreme Court and writes on topics related to law and the administration of justice. Legal reporting is his forte though he has extensive experience in political and community reporting too, having spent a decade as Kerala state correspondent, The Times of India and The Telegraph. He is a stickler for facts and has several impactful stories to his credit. ... Read More
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