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A recent order passed by the Supreme Court lambasted the government of Himachal Pradesh and the Union government for turning a blind eye to the ecological destruction that the state is facing.
The situation in Himachal Pradesh has gone from bad to worse, noted the apex court on July 28, 2025.
"The severe ecological imbalance and other environmental conditions have led to serious natural calamities over a period of years. This year also hundreds of people perished in the floods and landslides and thousands of properties got destroyed. The nature definitely is annoyed with the activities which are going on in the State of HP”, the order said.
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, said the order.
Construction of four lane roads by the Himachal Pradesh government also came under the scanner of the court. To build the roads, heavy machinery and explosive materials need to be used to cut the mountains due to which the natural balance of the place has started to deteriorate. Likewise, the large-scale construction of dams, reservoirs and tunnels comes with considerable environmental costs.
The bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan said climate change is having an alarming and visible effect on the state. The uncontrolled growth of tourism has strained the state’s environment.
The Supreme Court warned that it is high time that the state pays attention and starts taking necessary action at the earliest in the right direction. The Union of India is also obliged to see that the ecological imbalance in the state does not get further disturbed and natural calamities do not occur. Revenue cannot be earned at the cost of the environment and ecology.
The Supreme Court on July 28, 2025, directed the state of Himachal Pradesh to file “an appropriate reply explaining whether they have any action plan to meet with the issues we have discussed and what do they propose to do future”.
The court would next hear the case on August 25, 2025, and judges said the case should be given top priority.
The Supreme Court was hearing a case filed by a private limited company engaged in the business of hotels and resorts. The petitioner had filed a writ petition before the High Court of Himachal Pradesh seeking quashing of a notification dated June 6, 2025, whereby Tara Mata Hill has been declared as a green area in total.
The Government of Himachal Pradesh’s Town and Country Planning Department issued the notification. It made amendments to the development plan for the Shimla Planning Area which included insertion of one new green area/belt which is Shri Tara Mata Hill Green Area.
The notification stated that in the green area, no new private construction should be allowed “except re-construction on old line and addition and alteration in the existing building with prior approval of the State Government. The construction activities pertaining to Shri Tara Mata Complex, if any, to be carried out by the trust shall be allowed with prior approval of the State Government”.
The petitioner, Pristine Hotels and Resorts, wants to put up a resort and the notification is coming in the way. The High Court declined to entertain the writ petition as the petitioner could not be said to be an aggrieved person. The reason for the High Court to say so is because the petitioner as a Private Limited Company has not acquired any right or interest to purchase land within the state of Himachal Pradesh.
The Supreme Court refused to interfere with the order of the High Court.
The bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan said the reason for issuing the notification, which was made a subject matter of challenge before the High Court, was to curb construction activities in a particular area.
Even though the object of issuing such notifications declaring certain earmarked areas as green areas is definitely a laudable object “but we are afraid to say that it is too late in the day for the State to issue such notifications and try to save the situation”.
A total of 37 dyeing industries were found to be operating without valid consent to operate (CTO) in Nagar Palika Parishad, Loni in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad district, stated the joint committee report on August 4, 2025.
The committee observed that wastewater coming from the area of Arya Nagar in Loni is being discharged into the Indirapuri drain, which ultimately flows into Yamuna river.
The matter related to illegal dyeing chemical units operating in Nagar Palika Parishad, Loni. The applicant (Residents Welfare Association, Prem Nagar) had enclosed a list of 286 factories operating in the area and said there are several un-authorised small dyeing factories using chemical components.
The units are operating without any permission from the competent authority and without any NOC from Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB). These units are causing air and water pollution. The applicant also alleged that the chemicals discharged from the units are flowing in the drain and are affecting the quality of groundwater.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on October 24, 2024, had directed the constitution of a joint committee. The panel identified 17 dyeing units illegally operating in the area in the first inspection. These have been closed down and their electricity connections have been disconnected.
An interim report dated March 31, 2025, stated that further surveys of 111 units in the area were conducted by officials from the regional office, UPPCB; Nagar Palika Parishad, Loni and the electricity department in Ghaziabad on several dates.
Twenty-six dyeing and washing units were identified, wherein 15 units were found operational and having valid CTO from UPPCB. Ten units were not possessing CTO. In addition, one electroplating unit was found to be operating without a valid CTO. The panel had inspected a total 128 industries till the filing of the interim report.
The NGT on April 2, 2025, directed a survey of the remaining 175 units. The UPPCB and electricity department conducted the survey. During it, 24 industries and two electroplating units were found operational without CTO from UPPCB.
Thus, 34 of the 50 dyeing industries in the area were found to be operating without CTO and 16 were found to be having valid CTO. Further, during the survey, three electroplating units were also found being operated without having a CTO from UPPCB.
The NGT on August 1, 2025, directed concerned authorities to ensure that the well in Bilveshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh is protected and encroachments removed. The court will next hear the matter on November 4, 2025.
The matter relates to an ancient well in Bilveshwar Nath temple which has been filled up and encroached upon. There is also an allegation of burning garbage and causing pollution.
A joint committee was constituted by the district magistrate, Meerut, which inspected the site on July 25, 2025. The committee said the well has been completely filled and levelled.
The panel recommended that as the temple complex is of ancient and archaeological importance, it would be appropriate that the state archaeological department, Lucknow, should take necessary action for the maintenance of the complex (temple, well), its management and cleanliness.