The Supreme Court has warned the unchecked ecological degradation in Himachal Pradesh could lead to the state’s disappearance from the map of the country and directed the state and Union Government to file action plans addressing the ongoing environmental crisis in the state. 

A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan made these remarks while dismissing a challenge by a private company, M/s Pristine Hotels and Resorts Private Ltd., against a June 2025 notification which declared Shri Tara Mata Hill as a green area and prohibited fresh private construction, on July 28.

Observing that the situation in Himachal Pradesh has gone from bad to worse, the Apex Court said climate change is having a “visible and alarming impact” on the state.

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

 “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,” it said.

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.

 “The situation in the State of Himachal Pradesh has gone from bad to worse; the  nature definitely is annoyed with the activities which are going on in the State of HP,” the Bench said

“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 & thousands of properties got destroyed” the Court remarked. .

Referring to the Himalayan region, the Bench said there is a need for all the Himalayan states to collate resources and expertise so as to ensure that development plans are cognizant of these challenges.

 “These changes threaten not only the environment but also the livelihoods of local communities dependent on farming, horticulture, and eco-tourism deforestation and forest degradation are major concerns,” it said.

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

The Bench said, “ The pace of infrastructure development in the state has intensified in recent years, driven by the twin goals of connectivity and tourism and projects like four-lane highways, ropeways, tunnels and urban expansions often bypass environmental safeguards”, it said.

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