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Shimla,Aug 4
Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the state government to ensure that hydroelectric projects maintain the mandatory minimum environmental flow of 15 per cent in rivers during the lean season from November to March and submit a compliance affidavit by April 30, 2027.
Hearing a public interest litigation, Court on its Own Motion versus State of Himachal Pradesh and Others (CWPIL No. 1 of 2025), a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin C. Negi accepted the compliance affidavit filed by the state through the Assistant Director of Fisheries, Mandi.
The affidavit stated that although the lean season has not yet begun, the Fisheries Officer has been instructed to regularly inspect whether the mandatory 15 per cent environmental flow is being released by the project authorities and to immediately report any violation to the concerned authorities and the project proponent.
The court was informed that the Deputy Commissioner, Mandi, has constituted a River Monitoring Committee to oversee compliance and conservation measures. During its meeting held on June 9, 2026, the committee decided on the utilisation of Rs 12 lakh deposited by the project proponent for the restoration, enhancement and conservation of aquatic life in the river.
According to the action plan placed before the court, the amount will be utilised over three financial years—2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29—for graded stocking to restore brown trout and rainbow trout populations and improve the river ecosystem.
The minutes of the committee meeting also showed that it discussed the pattern of desilting operations, conservation of trout habitat, and regular monitoring of water quality both upstream and downstream of the hydroelectric project.
It recommended that desilting be carried out annually between September 15 and October 15 in accordance with applicable norms.
The committee further considered installation of an online continuous sensor to monitor Total Suspended Solids (TSS) discharge and reviewed mechanisms for monitoring environmental flows to ensure continuous release of the mandatory 15 per cent water flow.
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While accepting the compliance affidavit, the High Court directed the state government to file a separate affidavit specifically indicating compliance with maintaining the minimum environmental flow of 15 per cent during the lean season between November and March.
The matter has been listed for further compliance after the affidavit is filed by April 30, 2027.
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