'Entire State Of Himachal Pradesh May Vanish': Supreme Court's Grim Warning Over Ecological Crisis

Last Updated:August 02, 2025, 05:24 IST

The court highlighted the broader issue of unsustainable development across the state

The court noted that climate change is having a 'visible and alarming impact', with retreating glaciers (such as the significantly shrinking Bara Shigri glacier), changing snowfall patterns, and erratic weather events destabilising slopes and threatening livelihoods dependent on farming, horticulture, and ecotourism. (Representational image: PTI)

The Supreme Court issued a stern warning on Friday about the dire environmental situation in Himachal Pradesh. “The day is not far when the entire state of Himachal Pradesh may vanish," said Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, highlighting the Himalayan state’s worsening ecological crisis, aggravated by frequent natural disasters.

The strong comments were made during a hearing about environmental protection on Shri Tara Devi Hill in Shimla. The court upheld the Himachal Pradesh government’s decision to designate it as a green area, banning further construction.

However, the bench used this opportunity to address the broader issue of unsustainable development across the state. Justice Pardiwala said, “You cannot earn revenue at the cost of the environment," stressing that unchecked and often unscientific construction, hydropower projects, four-lane roads, and extensive deforestation are pushing the delicate Himalayan ecosystem to its limit.

The Supreme Court pointed out that “the situation in the state of Himachal Pradesh has gone from bad to worse", with severe ecological imbalance causing more frequent and intense natural disasters. This year alone, hundreds of lives have been lost and thousands of properties destroyed due to floods and landslides.

The court noted that climate change is having a “visible and alarming impact", with retreating glaciers (such as the significantly shrinking Bara Shigri glacier), changing snowfall patterns, and erratic weather events destabilising slopes and threatening livelihoods dependent on farming, horticulture, and ecotourism.

The SC attributed these disasters more to human activities than to nature alone, emphasising that uncontrolled tourism, poor waste management, and the neglect of environmental safeguards in infrastructure projects are major contributing factors. By converting the matter into a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the Supreme Court has indicated its intention to closely monitor the situation, instructing the Himachal Pradesh government to submit a detailed action plan within four weeks.

Pathikrit Sen Gupta

Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He trawls X via ...Read More

Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He trawls X via ...

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August 02, 2025, 05:24 IST

News india 'Entire State Of Himachal Pradesh May Vanish': Supreme Court's Grim Warning Over Ecological Crisis

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