SC-appointed panel reviews Himachal’s ecological concerns

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CEC flags glacier melt, tree survival & carrying capacity amid development pressure

Dharamshala, September 7

The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), constituted on the directions of the Supreme Court, has begun reviewing key environmental concerns in Himachal Pradesh, including rapid glacier melt, tree felling and rising vehicular pressure in tourist areas.

The committee held a preliminary meeting with officials of various state departments and environmental experts in Dharamshala on Monday. CEC member Dr Satish Garkoti said around nine key environmental aspects were discussed during the meeting.

Based on consultations with officials and experts, the committee will prepare its report and make recommendations. Garkoti said the committee had sought additional time due to the monsoon and was granted six weeks, but efforts were being made to submit the report to the SC at the earliest.

Garkoti said rapid glacier melt was a global concern, with recent developments in the Himalayan region highlighting the seriousness of the threat. Climate change and glacier-related issues would be among the committee’s key priorities, he added.

On tree felling for four-lane highways, tunnels and other development projects, Garkoti said provisions for compensatory afforestation were in place, but the survival of planted saplings remained a major challenge. Merely meeting plantation targets was not enough, he said, stressing the need for proper monitoring.

The CEC member also called for stronger monitoring mechanisms after environmental clearances, saying effective oversight could help address several ecological problems.

On rising vehicular pressure in tourist and hilly areas, Garkoti said every road and region had a specific carrying capacity. It was important to determine the level of vehicular movement an area could sustain without adversely affecting its environment and infrastructure, he added.

“The entire Himalayan region is environmentally sensitive and should be viewed as an ecological unit rather than separately as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand or Jammu and Kashmir. Development policies and plans needed to take this sensitivity into account,” the CEC member added.

Garkoti said steps were also being taken to identify and declare certain areas as Ecologically Sensitive Areas.