Home / Environment / HP Court Halts Eco-Fragile Road Projects
HP Court Halts Eco-Fragile Road Projects
19 Aug
Summary
- Court halts new roads to fragile sites like Chandratal Lake.
- Concerns raised over waste management for tourists.
- PIL registered to examine environmental impact of development.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued a significant directive, halting all proposals for forest clearance related to new road construction or tarring in ecologically fragile areas. This decision, made by a division bench, addresses concerns about increased road access leading to environmental degradation in sensitive locations.
The court specifically highlighted Chandratal Lake in Lahaul-Spiti, Shikari Devi Mandir in Mandi, and Churdhar Temple in Sirmaur as areas where heightened tourist activity and infrastructure development pose environmental risks. Concerns have also been raised regarding overnight camping around Chandratal Lake, with the court seeking urgent clarification on waste management practices for plastic and human waste.
To further investigate these environmental impacts, a Public Interest Litigation has been registered. The court has impleaded key government bodies, including the principal secretary (forests), principal chief conservator of forests, and the Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board, demanding their responses within four weeks. The next hearing is scheduled for September 28.
