Home / Environment / Eco-Probe: Himachal Faces 'Disappearing Act' Risk
Eco-Probe: Himachal Faces 'Disappearing Act' Risk
18 Sep
Summary
- Supreme Court probes illegal construction in Himachal's green belts.
- Committee visit to Shimla expected by the first week of October.
- Supreme Court warned Himachal could vanish if development continues.
A Supreme Court-appointed committee is scheduled to visit Shimla by the first week of October to investigate illegal constructions, hill cutting, and tree felling in Himachal Pradesh's ecologically sensitive green belt areas. This probe was initiated following a stark warning from the Supreme Court in July 2025 that the state could "vanish in thin air" if unregulated development persisted.
The Central Empowered Committee, originally formed two decades ago for a different forest case, is now examining development practices and environmental concerns across Himachal Pradesh. Their objective is to understand ground realities and explore how development can be balanced with environmental conservation. The committee has the authority to gather records, conduct field inspections, and consult experts in various environmental fields.
The investigation was prompted by a hotel developer's petition challenging a Himachal Pradesh High Court ruling. The Supreme Court, taking cognizance of widespread issues including floods and landslides in 2025 attributed to hydropower projects, highways, deforestation, and construction, registered a suo motu writ petition to examine the state's ecology comprehensively.
Environmentalist Yogendra Mohan Sengupta's applications highlighted the critical role of Shimla's 17 notified green belt areas, comprising deodar forests, in maintaining slope stability and preserving the town's fragile ecology. He seeks a court-monitored survey to identify illegal constructions and demarcate green belt boundaries using advanced technology. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case again on October 26.
