'Himachal Pradesh May Vanish From India's Map': SC Warns Of Climate Change Threat To State

Last Updated:August 02, 2025, 09:52 IST

The Supreme Court observed that climate change has a “visible and alarming impact" in Himachal Pradesh

Damage to public properties after incessant rainfall in Mandi | Image: PTI (File)

The Supreme Court issued a stern warning over the environmental degradation in Himachal Pradesh, stating that if urgent action is not taken, the state could “vanish in thin air" due to ongoing ecological damage.

A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, while hearing a petition related to a June 2025 notification that designated certain areas as “green zones," observed on July 28 that climate change has a “visible and alarming impact."

“We want to impress upon the state government and the Union of India that earning revenue is not everything. Revenue cannot be earned at the cost of environment and ecology," the court said.

“If things proceed the way they are as on date, the day is not far when the entire state of HP may vanish in thin air from the map of the country. God forbid this doesn’t happen," the bench remarked.

The petition challenged a Himachal Pradesh High Court order that had declined to interfere with the state government’s notification aimed at curbing construction.

While upholding the High Court’s decision, the Supreme Court said the notification intended to restrict unregulated development.

The court expressed concern over increasing natural disasters in the state, noting that human activity — not nature — is largely to blame for frequent landslides, road collapses, and building failures.

“The nature definitely is annoyed with the activities that are going on in Himachal Pradesh," the bench observed.

Citing expert reports, the bench listed unchecked hydropower projects, rapid expansion of roadways, deforestation, and unregulated construction of multi-storey buildings as major causes of environmental degradation.

Referring to the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, the judges stressed the need to consult geologists, environmental experts, and local communities before launching development projects.

“With forests encompassing more than 66 per cent of the total land area, Himachal Pradesh is renowned for its abundant beauty and greenery. But the danger to this natural richness is growing as a result of human greed and apathy," the court said.

The bench added that the construction of tunnels, roads, and dams — often executed without proper environmental planning — has made the region more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

It highlighted the rising average temperatures, erratic snowfall patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events as indicators of a worsening climate crisis.

While hydropower is a key energy source for the state, the court noted that large-scale dam construction has significant environmental consequences. It also flagged forest fires, encroachments, overgrazing, and urban expansion as factors aggravating the ecological stress.

Tourism, though vital for the local economy, has also added pressure.

The court warned that unregulated tourism could severely damage the state’s fragile ecological and social systems. “If left unchecked, the pressure from tourism could severely undermine the ecological and social fabric of the state," the bench cautioned.

Calling for coordinated action among Himalayan states, the court stressed the importance of pooling resources and expertise to develop sustainable plans. It said both the state and central governments bear responsibility for halting further ecological damage.

“All that we want to convey today is that it is high time the state of HP pays attention to what we have observed and starts taking necessary action at the earliest in the right direction," the court said.

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First Published:

August 02, 2025, 09:52 IST

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