New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh may disappear into thin air someday soon if unregulated development continues unabated, the Supreme Court has observed while expressing serious concerns over ecological imbalance in Himachal Pradesh.
“We want to impress upon the state government and Union of India that earning revenue is not everything. Revenue cannot be earned at the cost of the environment and ecology. If things proceed, the way they are as on date, then the day is not far when the entire state may vanish into thin air from the map of the country,” the bench of J B Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan observed.
“God forbid this doesn’t happen. Therefore, it is of utmost necessity that adequate steps are taken at the earliest in the right direction,” it added.
The Court was hearing an appeal by M/s Pristine Hotels and Resorts Pvt Ltd against a High Court decision to uphold a notification of the Himachal Pradesh government dated June 6, 2025. It was on the basis of this notification that permission was denied to the company to construct a hotel at Shri Tara Mata Hill. The notification declared the Shri Tara Mata Hill a ‘Green Area’, prohibiting all private construction there.
The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal and initiated a suo motu PIL on the issue. The bench then asked the state to submit a report within four weeks, detailing the steps taken to address the deteriorating ecological and environmental conditions prevailing in the region.
“We expect the state to file an appropriate reply explaining whether they have any action plan to meet with the issues we have discussed and what they propose to do in the future,” it observed.
“The petition stands dismissed. However, in the larger public interest, we would like to keep this matter alive so far as the issues relating to ecology and environmental conditions prevailing in the state are concerned,” the Bench said.
“Climate change is having a visible and alarming impact on Himachal Pradesh,” the bench noted, adding: “The state has been witnessing rising average temperatures, shifting snowfall patterns, and an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Glaciers, the primary source of many rivers in the region, are retreating at a concerning rate, raising the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods. The biggest Bara Shigri glacier in Lahaul Spiti has been reduced by almost 2-2.5 km.”
“Unseasonal rainfall and prolonged dry spells affect agriculture and water availability. Erratic weather patterns also destabilise slopes and affect biodiversity. These changes threaten not only the environment, but also the livelihoods of local communities dependent on farming, horticulture, and eco-tourism. Deforestation and forest degradation are major concerns. Forest fires, encroachments, over-grassing, and the expansion of agricultural and urban areas are all contributing factors. All development-related projects often result in tree felling and habitat fragmentation. Loss of forest cover not only reduces biodiversity but also weakens the soil, increasing the risk of landslides and erosion,” the Supreme Court observed.
