HC seeks details on utilisation of LADA, CSR and CAMPA funds in Kinnaur PIL
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Shimla, July 10
Himachal Pradesh High Court has initiated judicial scrutiny into the utilisation of Local Area Development Authority (LADA), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and other environmental funds in Kinnaur while hearing a public interest litigation seeking better environmental protection and waste management in the tribal district.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin C. Negi issued notice to the State Government and other respondents on July 9 in the matter titled Sourabh Kumar Negi versus State of Himachal Pradesh and Others. The court directed the State to furnish necessary details on the utilisation of these funds by the next date of hearing, fixed for August 17.
The PIL seeks implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, across National Highway-5 and Kinnaur district. It also seeks directions to earmark a fixed share of LADA and CSR funds for creating permanent green jobs for local tribal youth through an “Eco-Grid” volunteer force.
The petitioner further requested that environmental revenue, including plastic buy-back funds, Kinnaur Gate Green Cess and environmental compensation charges, be consolidated into a single judicially monitored “Tribal Eco-Grid Environment and Livelihood Fund”. The plea also sought a joint assessment by the Horticulture Department and the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board to evaluate alleged damage to apple orchards caused by hydro-blasting and dust from hydropower projects.
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Observing that all hydropower projects provide 12 per cent free power to the State along with an additional one per cent for the project-affected area and a matching one per cent financial grant under the State Power Policy, the Bench said the issue requiring examination was how these LADA and CSR funds were being utilised in Kinnaur.
The court also noted that the CAMPA corpus presently lying with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests would be transferred to the State Government under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority framework.
According to the petitioner, tribal areas affected by multiple hydropower projects continue to face inadequate environmental services, and local youth should be engaged in environmental protection through financial support from CSR and LADA funds. Former power sector officials have also claimed that LADA funds are often spent on routine administrative works instead of long-term local development and environmental conservation.
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