Chandratal lake Spiti
Shimla, Sept 3,
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Principal Bench on Monday took note of the steps initiated by Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh to safeguard the fragile ecology of the Higher Himalayas, while hearing a matter on declaring the region an eco-sensitive zone.
The Bench comprising Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Expert Member Dr. A. Senthil Vel and Expert Member Ishwar Singh was dealing with an original application based on a news report titled “Need to declare the Higher Himalaya an eco-sensitive zone” published in Current Science on October 25, 2023.
A Joint Committee, constituted earlier, had recommended several protective measures including installation of early warning systems, regulation of construction and tourism, afforestation of degraded slopes, strict enforcement of the ban on single-use plastics, and active involvement of local communities in conservation programs.
The States of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh submitted their responses detailing measures already undertaken. Uttarakhand highlighted initiatives such as earthquake warning systems, establishment of landslide mitigation centres, Doppler radars, solid waste management plants and a digital refund system to tackle plastic waste.
Himachal Pradesh cited steps like installation of Doppler radars in Shimla, Chamba and Mandi, amendments to town and country planning rules for safer construction, a strict single-use plastic ban, and carrying capacity studies for ecologically sensitive areas.
During the proceedings, counsel for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) sought additional time to evaluate the responses of both states. “The response affidavits have been received recently. We seek four weeks’ time to examine the stands of the States and file our response,” the ministry submitted.
Granting the request, the Bench ordered: “Prayer is allowed. List on 28.11.2025.”
The matter will now be taken up in November, when the Ministry is expected to place its response on record.
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