NGT cracks down on Illegal hill constructions in disaster prone areas of Himachal

Shimla, Aug 25,

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has stepped in to address one of Himachal Pradesh’s gravest concerns — the unchecked rise of illegal multi-storey buildings mushrooming along riverbanks and fragile hillsides despite repeated disasters and government bans.

Acting suo motu on a media report, the tribunal has sought answers from state and central authorities after it emerged that construction approvals are still being handed out in restricted zones, with little monitoring once initial clearances are granted. This development comes barely two years after the catastrophic 2023 floods in Kullu and Shimla, where reckless urban expansion was widely blamed for amplifying destruction.

The NGT bench, led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava with Expert Members Dr. A. Senthil Vel and Dr. Prashant Gargava, underlined that such practices blatantly violate the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The order further flagged that nearly half of Himachal Pradesh lies in seismic Zone-V, highly prone to earthquakes, flash floods, and landslides — making fragile constructions a “recipe for tragedy.”

In a strongly worded directive, notices have been issued to the Himachal Pradesh Department of Town and Country Planning, the Department of Urban Development, the State Environment Department, the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. These agencies must submit detailed affidavits at least one week before the next hearing, scheduled for November 14, 2025. Officials who file replies without legal representation have also been ordered to remain virtually present to assist the court.

Noteworthy that the Supreme court also in a recent order stated “ “If things proceed the way they are as on date, then 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, had asserted a Division Bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan passed 17 page verdict on July 28 in a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Pristine Hotels and Resorts Pvt. Ltd., which sought to quash a Himachal Pradesh government notification declaring Shri Tara Mata Hill in Shimla as a designated green area. Read: https://himachalscape.com/sc-dismisses-plea-against-taradevi-green-area-notification-converts-matter-into-pil-on-himachal-ecological-crisis/

The case supports what environmentalists have long cautioned: that hill states like Himachal, already bearing the brunt of climate change, are pushing their ecological limits. Weak enforcement of environmental laws, combined with rising demand for real estate in tourist hubs, has fuelled a construction boom that often sidelines safety norms.

Cumulative till date,  306 lives have been lost with 38 missing,  367 injured and 27598 livestock dead. More than 6000  Kaccha, Pukka houses, shops, factory, labour shed, cow sheds have been destroyed in the ongoing rains.   Total revenue lost pegged at Rs 2394Crore.

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The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.

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Himachalscape bureau

The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.