New Delhi: The Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) has emphasised the need to identify hill-station-specific factual aspects while determining the accurate carrying capacity of each mountain region.
In a short affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, the ministry submitted that 13 Himalayan states must submit an action plan, in a time-bound manner, for taking steps to assess the carrying capacity of each one of them.
The guidelines prepared by G.B Pant National Institute Himalayan Environment — an institute working under the aegis of the MoEF — must be followed while making the assessment, the ministry said.
The affidavit comes in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Greater Noida-based Ashok Kumar Raghav, whose contention is that despite the heavy flow of tourists, the hill stations situated in ecologically fragile areas have no master plan, area development or zonal plans to ensure a planned growth.
The petition was filed close to the time when heavy monsoon showers caused havoc in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, resulting in the death of over 100 people in landslides, damage to roads, and building collapse.
The petitioner stressed on determining carrying capacity for a realistic assessment of the availability of drinking water, sewerage, infrastructure, parking space, and health and emergency services.
Though he mentioned various hill stations, including those in the Northeast, the SC, on the last date of hearing on 22 August, suggested the petitioner confine his petition to the Himalayan states only.
While hearing the petition, a bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud contemplated constituting a panel to study the carrying capacity of mountainous areas.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhatti had then told the bench that the central government had prepared a template for all states to provide information on the existing land use pattern, population, civic amenities, parking and other infrastructural needs, such as drinking water and waste management.
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What affidavit says
MoEF’s affidavit calls for the constitution of a committee in each of the 13 Himalayan states, which it said, should be headed by the chief secretary of the respective state.
This panel should carry out a multi-disciplinary study according to the guidelines prepared by the G.B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment.
These guidelines had been circulated to all the 13 Himalayan states in January 2020. A reminder was sent in May 2023 asking the states to oversee the implementation of the same, the affidavit said.
Considering the experience and expertise of G.B Pant institute, MoEF wants a technical committee headed by this institute’s director to evaluate the carrying capacity assessment made by each Himalayan state.
The institute, the affidavit said, has been involved in conducting specific carrying capacity studies for Mussoorie, Manali and Mcleodganj.
According to the central ministry’s suggestions, the technical committee should comprise heads of their nominees from the National Institute of Disaster Management, National Institute of Hydrology, India Institute of Remote Sensing, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Wildlife Institute of India, and School of Planning and Architecture.
It should also include representatives of state disaster management authorities, Geological Survey of India, and member secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board as well as the Central Ground Water Board, said the recommendations in the affidavit.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
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