The Supreme Court's empowered committee recommended tighter safeguards for Himachal Pradesh's vulnerable ecology. The proposals signal greater scrutiny of tourism, construction, highways, hydropower and afforestationImage used for representational purposes onlyNewdelhi,Oct 28, 2026 22:26 ISTThe Supreme Court's Central Empowered Committee has recommended measures to protect Himachal Pradesh's fragile Himalayan ecosystem amid growing development pressure and extensive damage caused by unprecedented monsoon rainfall and landslides, news agency Press Trust of India reported.The measures include a scientific assessment of how many visitors key tourist destinations can sustain, a review of highway projects by the Union Environment Ministry, and a screening system for new hydroelectric projects, particularly those above 2,000 metres.The Central Empowered Committee, or CEC, is a national-level body formed in 2002 following Supreme Court orders.
The Union Environment Ministry granted it statutory status in 2023. Its primary role is to advise the court on petitions related to environmental and forest matters and help monitor compliance with its orders.In its report, 'The Issues Relating To Ecology And Environmental Conditions Prevailing In The State Of Himachal Pradesh', published on October 23, the CEC said its recommendations followed an examination of hydroelectric projects, compensatory afforestation, roads, tourism and multi-storey buildings.
According to PTI, the committee found that Himachal Pradesh had reported plantations over about 30,462 hectares against a compensatory afforestation target of about 34,169 hectares for the period from 1981-82 to 2025-26. This left a shortfall of 3,707 hectares, or 10.85 per cent.The CEC also cited a 2015 assessment by the State Disaster Management Cell, which classified about 60 per cent of the road network at the time as prone to landslides. "Approximately 993 km out of 1,628 km of national highways and 1,112 km out of 2,179 km of state highways fell within the high vulnerability zone," the committee said.
On hydropower development, the committee said there was a need for a comprehensive assessment of the combined environmental impact of projects.The report also noted a heavy concentration of tourists at environmentally sensitive destinations. Kullu recorded about 2.74 million Indian tourist arrivals in 2025, while Shimla recorded about 2.67 million."There is also substantial seasonal vehicle pressure in Shimla, and congestion, emissions, waste generation, and pressure on fragile mountain ecosystems are concerns," the CEC said, according to PTI.To address these issues, the committee recommended that the Himachal Pradesh government strengthen and empower Special Area Development Authorities under the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act, 1977, particularly in congested tourist centres and environmentally sensitive areas."SADAs shall be directed to integrate carrying-capacity findings into development plans, building permissions, parking norms, land-use controls and construction monitoring," the committee said.Overall, the CEC called for scientific limits on tourism, closer scrutiny of road and hydroelectric projects, stronger development controls and action to address the shortfall in compensatory afforestation to reduce pressure on Himachal Pradesh's Himalayan ecosystem.- Ends