The call to shield the fragile Himalayas has reached the National Green Tribunal, which has directed the Centre to review submissions by Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on declaring the higher ranges as an eco-sensitive zone. The move, the Tribunal observed, could help mitigate disaster risks and promote sustainable growth in one of the most vulnerable landscapes of the subcontinent.
The Tribunal, headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava, with Dr A Senthil Vel and Ishwar Singh as members, issued its order on September 1, while taking suo motu cognisance of a paper published in Current Science in October 2023 titled “Need to declare the Higher Himalaya an eco-sensitive zone”. The matter will be heard next on November 28, with the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change asked to study the affidavits submitted by the two states and file its response within four weeks.
The case centres on the protection of fragile Himalayan ecosystems, increasingly scarred by flash floods, landslides and glacial lake outbursts. The Tribunal referred to recommendations of a Joint Committee submitted in July 2024, which had underscored the urgency of a coordinated, multi-pronged approach.
The panel had called for early warning systems for extreme weather and glacial activity, continuous monitoring of glaciers, rivers, lakes, forests and biodiversity, as well as strict scrutiny of large-scale construction. It stressed the need to regulate tourism pressure on delicate slopes by promoting eco-friendly infrastructure, better waste management and curbs on single-use plastics. Other recommendations included slope-stabilising afforestation with native oak species, training local communities in disaster response, and setting clear limits on tourist capacity.
Also read: NGT steps in after IIT study highlights Ganga’s evaporation loss
Himachal Pradesh, in its affidavit dated May 24, 2025, detailed steps it has already taken under the State Disaster Management Authority. These included the installation of Doppler weather radars at Shimla, Chamba and Mandi, with two more planned for Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti. Plans are underway to establish 48 weather stations, gauges and snow monitors across underserved blocks, alongside a real-time weather information system signed with the Indian Meteorological Department.
Proposals have also been placed before the National Disaster Management Authority to address the risks of four pro-glacial lakes. Surveys have been completed for Parvati and Baspa lakes, modelling done for Gepang Gath, and another survey planned for Satluj lake. The state has further launched the Disaster Risk Reduction Programme, backed by the French Development Agency, to improve preparedness against landslides, flash floods and glacial outburst floods.
The Ministry informed the Tribunal that both Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand’s affidavits had only recently been received and sought time to examine the submissions. The Tribunal has granted four weeks.
The deliberations come as the Himalayan belt experiences mounting environmental stress from climate change, unregulated tourism and ambitious infrastructure projects. Experts maintain that notifying the higher Himalayas as an eco-sensitive zone may prove pivotal for long-term ecological security and disaster resilience in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and beyond.
Follow us
