Entire Himalayan Range Facing Ecological Crisis: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Monday said the issue concerning ecology and environmental conditions was not going to be limited to Himachal Pradesh only as the entire Himalayan range, which was "very violent" this time, was facing it.
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"We will issue a concise order after summarizing all points," the bench stated. (Representational)
New Delhi:
The Supreme Court on Monday expressed concern that ecological and environmental issues extend beyond Himachal Pradesh, noting that the entire Himalayan range, which experienced "very violent" conditions this year, faces a significant crisis.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta announced it would deliver its order on September 23 in the suo motu matter regarding ecological and environmental conditions in Himachal Pradesh.
"This issue clearly transcends Himachal Pradesh. The entire Himalayan range is experiencing these problems. The recent events have been exceptionally violent," Justice Mehta observed.
During proceedings, Himachal Pradesh's advocate general and additional advocate general briefed the court about a report submitted by the state.
"We will provide a concise order summarizing everything to help you obtain specific instructions," the bench indicated.
Senior advocate K Parmeshwar, serving as amicus curiae, noted that the state's report addressed multiple aspects including tree cover.
"The report encompasses numerous issues. Addressing all aspects simultaneously may not be feasible. They've covered everything from tree cover to mining operations, glaciers, and more," he stated.
Parmeshwar highlighted the report's lack of specific details.
He mentioned that while the state acknowledged concerns about glacier reduction and movement in the report, concrete specifics were absent.
"The report merely proposes establishing a committee to investigate these matters," the amicus noted, adding that the scope was excessively broad.
The state's additional advocate general referenced a section of the report indicating that Himachal Pradesh is actively developing a state-level glacier registry.
According to the report, integrated studies of the Himalayan cryosphere were conducted by comparing glacier inventories from 2016-2019 with those from 2001-2002 across various Himachal Pradesh basins.
"Scientific analysis findings reveal that while glacier numbers have largely remained stable or slightly increased, their total area has decreased, indicating gradual shrinkage..." the report stated.
The document attributed recent catastrophes—high-intensity rainfall, cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides, changing snowfall patterns, and receding glaciers—to climate change, describing it as an undeniable global phenomenon resulting from extensive industrialization, increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and unsustainable practices at regional, national, and global levels.
Addressing the court's concern about hydropower projects causing destruction, the report argued these projects shouldn't be considered the primary cause of devastation in the state.
"Recent flash floods and cloudbursts occurred in areas distant from hydropower installations. These destructive events primarily resulted from cloudbursts at higher altitudes and mountain peaks where no hydropower projects exist," it explained.
The report also stated that national highway projects in the state were undertaken following due diligence, planning, and coordination with various stakeholder departments, including public consultation where applicable.
Regarding the court's concern about deforestation from development projects, the report stated that for rehabilitation and rejuvenation, the state forest department plants trees in degraded areas, including on evicted encroachment sites.
It revealed that between 2018 and 2025, the state experienced a surge in extreme weather events, with 434 incidents recorded across districts.
"These disasters claimed 123 lives and caused significant livestock losses, severely impacting rural communities dependent on agriculture, horticulture, and animal husbandry," the report noted.
On July 28, a different Supreme Court bench had warned that the state might "vanish into thin air" if conditions didn't improve.
Observing the state's deteriorating situation, the court had stated that climate change was having a "visible and alarming impact" on Himachal Pradesh.
The Supreme Court was addressing a petition challenging a Himachal Pradesh High Court order that declined to entertain a plea against the state's June 2025 notification designating certain areas as "green areas."
While refusing to interfere with the high court's decision, the apex court stated the obvious reason for issuing the notification was to restrict construction activities in specific areas.
The bench had noted that according to experts and various reports, the major causes of destruction in the state were hydropower projects, four-lane roads, deforestation, multi-storey buildings, and other development activities.
It observed that Himachal Pradesh is nestled within the Himalayan mountains, making it essential to seek input from geologists, environmental experts, and local residents before undertaking development projects.