Himachal’s Rivers Cry for Help: Supreme Court Warns of permanent damage to Himalayan ecosystem
Himachal Pradesh’s rivers are under siege. Despite repeated warnings from the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT), unscientific and reckless riverbed mining continues to scar the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
- Sand, boulders, pebbles, and gravel are being ripped directly from river channels and banks, often using heavy machinery like JCBs and Poclains.
- Mining is officially banned in all major rivers, yet large-scale extraction thrives in districts such as Una, Kangra, Solan, and Kullu.
- The pace of removal far outstrips natural replenishment, leaving river systems permanently damaged.
The Supreme Court has sounded the alarm, cautioning that Himachal Pradesh could “vanish in thin air” if the destruction continues unchecked. Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan reminded the state that revenue cannot come at the cost of ecology, especially when climate change is already showing “visible and alarming” impacts.
Rivers in Himachal are more than water channels—they shape the state’s economy, culture, and heritage. Yet, unchecked mining has:
- Triggered flash floods and landslides in recent years.
- Accelerated hill erosion and weakened river plains.
- Destroyed habitats for flora, fauna, and riparian communities.
Local environmentalists stress that the Himalayas are a treasure house of minerals, but exploitation without scientific study is pushing the region toward ecological collapse.
