NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Himachal Pradesh government to provide a complete and transparent accounting of its disaster management efforts, environmental policies, and development projects. The order comes in a suo motu case initiated against the backdrop of continuous landslides and flash floods that have devastated the state during the recent monsoon season.
Judicial Scrutiny of Ecological Imbalance
A Bench led by Justice Vikram Nath quoted a previous observation that “humans, not nature, are responsible for the phenomenon such as continuous landslides, collapsing of houses and buildings,” highlighting the court’s focus on human-driven ecological change.
The court recorded a detailed series of questions prepared by amicus curiae, senior advocate K. Parameshwar, demanding the state to place the following information on record by the next hearing on October 28:
• Zoning and Geo-sensitivity: Whether any zoning has been implemented based on seismic activity, landslides, green cover, or eco-sensitivity.
• Protected Areas: Details of designated reserved forests, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and whether eco-sensitive zones have been notified around them.
• Industrialization: Whether any ecological sites exist that prohibit the development of industrialization or mega projects.
Mandatory Disclosure on Deforestation and Development
The Supreme Court has specifically targeted data related to environmental impact and infrastructure growth over the past two decades:
• Green Cover Change: Details of the total designated forest area and the percentage change in tree and forest cover across the state over the last two decades.
• Tree Felling: Statistics for the last 10 years on permissions issued to entities for felling 500 or more trees in bulk, along with details of pending cases or prosecutions.
• Disaster Management Funds: Details of funds allocated for disaster management over the last 20 years and a comprehensive report on their utilization.
• Mega Projects: Specific information on mega hydroelectric projects, the number of existing and proposed four-lane highways (State and National), and their stages of completion.
The court directive signifies a comprehensive judicial intervention aimed at addressing the “ecological imbalance” that has exacerbated natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh.