Himachal Could ‘Vanish Into Thin Air’, SC Warns Amid Alarming Climate Crisis

Observing that the situation in the hill state has gone from bad to worse, a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan said: "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, 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 apex court said.

The top court made the observations on July 28 while dealing with a petition against an order of the Himachal Pradesh high court, which declined to entertain a plea challenging the state's June 2025 notification declaring certain areas as "green area".

While refusing to interfere with the high court's order, the apex court said the obvious reason for issuing the notification was to curb construction activities in a particular area.

"The situation in the state of Himachal Pradesh has gone from bad to worse. The severe ecological imbalance and other environmental conditions have led to serious natural calamities over a period of years," the bench said.

It noted that nature definitely is "annoyed" with the activities that are going on in Himachal Pradesh.

"It is not right to blame only nature for the disaster in Himachal Pradesh. Humans, not nature, are responsible for phenomena such as continuous landsliding of mountains and soil, landslides on roads, collapsing of houses and buildings, subsidence of roads etc.," it said.

The bench said according to experts and various reports, the major causes of destruction in the state are hydropower projects, four-lane roads, deforestation and multi-storey buildings, among others.

It observed that Himachal Pradesh is nestled in the lap of Himalayan mountains and it is important to seek the opinion of geologists, environmental experts and locals before any development project is undertaken there.

It said taking advantage of the state's natural beauty, the government started constructing four-lane roads to promote it as a tourist destination.

"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," it said.

The bench said unrelenting building, tunnel and road construction, frequently done without sufficient environmental planning, has increased the area's susceptibility to natural disasters and effects of climate change.

It said the state has been witnessing rising average temperatures, shifting snowfall patterns and an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.

It also flagged forest fires, encroachments, overgrazing and expansion of agricultural and urban areas as contributing factors.

"If left unchecked, the pressure from tourism could severely undermine the ecological and social fabric of the state," it said.

The bench said the Centre also owes an obligation to see that ecological imbalance in the state does not get further disturbed and natural calamities do not occur.

The bench directed the apex court registry to register a writ petition in public interest in this regard and posted the matter for hearing on August 25.