HP High Court cracks down on Pong wetland encroachment, orders DC, forest Dept to act
Photo source: Internet
Shimla, Jan 8,
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has taken serious note of large-scale illegal encroachment, poaching and misuse of wetland areas inside the Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary, issuing strict directions to district and forest authorities to act without delay.
A Division Bench headed by G.S. Sandhawalia, along with Jiya Lal Bhardwaj, passed the order while hearing a bunch of connected Public Interest Litigations, including a suo motu matter titled Court on its own motion vs State of Himachal Pradesh & others.
Taking on record photographs and additional documents placed before it, the Court observed that poaching of wildlife was allegedly being carried out using explosive substances coated with edible material to lure birds and animals, causing grave harm not only to wildlife but also to cattle.
“In sum and substance, it is submitted that poaching of the wildlife animals has been done with explosive substances coated with some edible material to lure the birds and wild life,” the Bench noted, adding that even cows had suffered injuries after consuming such substances.
The Court also expressed concern over illegal cultivation on receding wetland areas, which fall squarely within the notified limits of the Wildlife Sanctuary.
“We issue necessary directions to the Deputy Commissioner and the Conservator of Forest to take effective steps to remove all fencing on the wet land area and take steps to re-cultivate the land, in case any crops have been grown,” the order said.
Making it clear that such occupation had no legal sanction, the Bench categorically held that persons cultivating or fencing the wetland areas were encroachers.
“Even otherwise the said persons have no authority to use the wet land which does not belong to them and they are encroachers,” the Court observed, while directing authorities to initiate action strictly in accordance with law after issuing show cause notices.
Issuing direction aimed at preventing obstruction of enforcement, the High Court ordered that no civil court shall grant any injunction in favour of such encroachers.
“No Civil Court shall grant any injunction against said persons,” the Bench directed, while also asking the Forest Department to use drones to capture images showing the extent of illegal cultivation over wetland areas and place a detailed status report on record.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on April 8, 2026, with the Court seeking strict compliance and accountability from the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, and senior forest officials responsible for protection of the Pong Dam wetland ecosystem.
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