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National Park Buffer Zone Quashed: Stone Crushers Roar Back
29 Sep
Summary
- High Court nullified Eco-Sensitive Zone around Simbalbara National Park.
- Two stone crushers have resumed operations post-ruling.
- Court cited procedural lapses and lack of local consultation.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court nullified the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) notification for Col Sher Jung National Park Simbalbara, citing procedural irregularities and insufficient consultation with local communities. This decision, made on April 16, 2026, has led to the resumption of operations for at least two stone crushers previously halted due to the ESZ.
These stone crushers, located near the Batta river and in the vicinity of the Yamuna, had ceased operations after the ESZ was declared in January 2022. Officials from the Mining Department confirmed that the resumption of activities is a direct consequence of the High Court's ruling, allowing operations to restart in May-June 2026.
The original ESZ notification aimed to protect the park's fragile ecosystem by regulating activities like mining and stone crushing. However, residents and Gram Panchayats challenged the notification, leading the court to declare it invalid for failing to adhere to mandatory procedural guidelines for resident impact.
Simbalbara National Park is ecologically significant, known to host vulnerable wildlife such as tigers and serve as a crucial corridor for Asiatic elephants moving between Uttarakhand and Haryana. The state government is now deliberating whether to appeal the High Court's decision or initiate the process for a new ESZ notification.
