Shimla, August 25: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Himachal Pradesh government and multiple agencies over unregulated and haphazard construction activities, expressing concern over violations of environmental norms and inadequate monitoring.
The tribunal’s order, dated August 20, observed that such violations contravene the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. Notices have been issued to the Departments of Town and Country Planning, Urban Development and Environment, Science Technology and Climate Change, the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dehradun.
The NGT has directed the concerned agencies to file their replies through affidavits via lawyers before the next hearing. Those submitting directly must join virtually to assist the court a week prior to the scheduled date. “The news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance of environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment,” the tribunal noted. The matter is listed for November 11, 2025.
The order highlighted that the case concerns the unchecked growth of illegal constructions in Himachal Pradesh, which officials attribute to poor enforcement and inadequate monitoring. The tribunal referred to a 2023 ban imposed by the state government following flash floods in Kullu and Shimla districts. Despite the ban, illegal construction continues, indicating that directives from the Town and Country Planning Department have not been effectively enforced.
According to the article reviewed by the NGT, structures located near riverbanks are frequently swept away or damaged during flash floods. The report also pointed out that once construction approvals are granted, follow-up inspections are rare, allowing violations to persist. Large areas of the state fall under seismic zone V, in addition to being prone to flash floods and other natural hazards, yet multi-storeyed buildings continue to be raised in violation of the floor ratio area (FRA) regulations.
The tribunal’s notice signals a stricter scrutiny of environmental compliance and urban planning practices in the state, emphasizing the need for proper monitoring and enforcement to prevent further risks to life and property.
