New Delhi, Aug 1 — Addressing the ecological crisis in Himachal Pradesh, the Supreme Court on July 28 cautioned that the state could “vanish in thin air” if urgent corrective measures are not taken. The warning came while the Apex Court was hearing a petition challenging a Himachal Pradesh High Court order that declined to entertain a plea against the state’s June 2025 notification declaring certain areas as “green zones”.
“If things proceed the way they are as on date, the day is not far when the entire state of Himachal Pradesh may vanish in thin air from the map of the country. God forbid this doesn’t happen,” said a Bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan.
While refusing to interfere with the High Court’s order, the court made sweeping observations on the severe ecological imbalance, frequent landslides, subsidence, building collapses, and other disasters plaguing the hill state.
The Bench blamed human activity, not nature, for the increasing frequency and intensity of natural calamities in the state, stating that the environment is being sacrificed in the name of development.
“We want to impress upon the state government and Union of India that earning revenue is not everything. Revenue cannot be earned at the cost of environment and ecology,” the court said.
The court flagged hydropower projects, unregulated multi-storey construction, deforestation, and four-lane highways as key drivers of the ecological damage. It said the state, often referred to as the “Power State” of India for its hydropower potential, was paying a steep environmental price.
“Unrelenting building, tunnel and road construction, frequently done without sufficient environmental planning, has increased the area’s susceptibility to natural disasters,” the court noted.
The Bench highlighted that Himachal has lost its climatic stability, pointing to rising temperatures, shifting snowfall patterns, and extreme weather events, which have devastated livelihoods dependent on farming, horticulture, and eco-tourism.
It also criticised the unchecked growth of tourism, saying it had placed enormous pressure on the state’s environment.
“If left unchecked, the pressure from tourism could severely undermine the ecological and social fabric of the state,” it said.
The court underlined that any future infrastructure or tourism project must involve consultation with geologists, environmental experts, and local residents.
It directed the Supreme Court registry to register a suo motu public interest writ petition, and sought a detailed action plan from the Himachal Pradesh government on how it proposes to tackle the crisis. The Centre was also reminded of its responsibility in preserving ecological balance in the Himalayan region.
“All that we want to convey today is that it is high time the state of Himachal Pradesh pays attention to what we have observed,” the Bench said.
The matter will be heard next on August 25, following an appropriate order from the Chief Justice of India.
