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NGT Directs Himachal Pradesh to Implement Sustainable Guidelines for Kufri-Mahasu Peak
29 Oct
Summary
- NGT disposes of 2-year-old case on environmental degradation at Kufri-Mahasu Peak
- Directs HP to frame and implement guidelines for sustainable horse and eco-tourism management
- Fixes daily limits of 293 horses and 2,232 tourists to maintain ecological balance
On October 14, 2025, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi disposed of a two-year-old case concerning environmental degradation caused by horse dung and unregulated tourist activity at the Kufri-Mahasu Peak trail in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh. The tribunal has directed the state government to frame and implement appropriate guidelines for sustainable management of horses and eco-tourism in the area within the next three months.
The NGT accepted the findings of a joint committee, which had confirmed illegal expansion of horse parking areas into forest land, accumulation of horse dung leading to water contamination and health risks, and ecological imbalance causing a decline in snowfall and drying up of natural water sources. To address these issues, the tribunal has fixed that 293 horses will ply on the Kufri-Mahasu Peak trail each day based on the Cifuentes ecological methodology, and 2,232 tourists will visit the Mahasu Peak area to maintain ecological balance and trail stability.
