Himachal on the Brink: Supreme Court Warns State Could Vanish Amid Ecological Crisis
“Himachal Pradesh on the Brink: Supreme Court Warns State Could ‘Vanish’ Amid Ecological Crisis”
The Supreme Court has issued a dire warning—unchecked environmental destruction in Himachal Pradesh could lead to the state’s disappearance from India’s map. In a stern order, the court directed both the state and central governments to submit urgent action plans to tackle the escalating ecological disaster.
A Wake-Up Call for Himachal
A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan sounded the alarm while dismissing a plea by M/s Pristine Hotels and Resorts Private Ltd., which had challenged a 2025 government notification protecting Shri Tara Mata Hill as a green zone. The court’s message was clear: profit cannot come at the cost of the planet.
“If things continue this way, the day isn’t far when Himachal Pradesh may vanish from the country’s map. God forbid this doesn’t happen,” the judges remarked, painting a grim picture of the state’s future.
Nature’s Fury: A State in Peril
The court didn’t mince words—climate change is hitting Himachal hard. From devastating floods and landslides to raging forest fires, the state is paying the price for reckless development. “Nature is annoyed,” the bench observed, pointing to years of ecological neglect.
- Hundreds of lives lost in recent disasters
- Thousands of homes destroyed by landslides and floods
- Deforestation, illegal construction, and unchecked tourism choking the Himalayas
A Call to Save the Himalayas
The judges urged all Himalayan states to join forces, stressing that development must respect nature’s limits. They highlighted how highways, tunnels, and urban sprawl are bulldozing through environmental safeguards, putting lives at risk.
“Forest fires, encroachments, and overgrazing are making things worse. The livelihoods of farmers, fruit growers, and tourism workers hang in the balance,” the court warned.
With this ruling, the Supreme Court has put governments on notice—act now, or lose Himachal forever. The question remains: Will this be the wake-up call needed to save the state before it’s too late?
