The Indian government has requested the Supreme Court to issue directives to all 13 Himalayan states and Union territories to urgently evaluate the carrying capacity of mountainous regions. The carrying capacity refers to the maximum population an ecosystem can sustain without degradation.
In an affidavit submitted on Monday, the government emphasized the need for states and UTs to outline steps taken to prevent further ecosystem degradation. They are also expected to propose action plans, which will be examined by a technical committee led by the Director of the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change stressed the importance of collecting specific factual information from each hill station with the assistance of local authorities from various disciplines.
The Centre's affidavit follows heavy monsoon showers in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, which caused significant damage and resulted in the deaths of at least 103 people due to landslides, building collapses, and infrastructure damage.
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The Centre has urged the Supreme Court to instruct the 13 states to conduct fresh assessments. The states are encouraged to establish committees, led by their chief secretaries, to collect information regarding the load-carrying capacity of their hill stations, cities, and eco-sensitive zones.
The guidelines for assessing the carrying capacity of mountainous areas, prepared by the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, were shared with the 13 states in January 2020. Reminders were sent in May 2023, urging them to undertake the study and submit the action plan promptly.
The Centre has requested that the carrying capacity studies be examined by a technical committee headed by the Director of the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment. The institute has previously conducted similar studies for places like Mussoorie, Manali, and McLeodganj.
The committee's experts would come from various disciplines, including disaster management, hydrology, remote sensing, Himalayan geology, forestry, wildlife, architecture, pollution control, and groundwater protection.
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The Supreme Court has been hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) regarding the degradation of ecologically fragile areas in the Himalayan states. On August 22, the court expressed concern over issues such as haphazard construction, increased vehicular and tourist traffic, and unplanned development in the region.
The court is considering the formation of a committee to address these issues and has asked the Centre to suggest institutes with expertise to conduct such studies.
The PIL, filed by Dr. Ashok Kumar Raghav from Greater Noida, highlights the lack of master plans, area development plans, and zonal development plans in frequently visited hill stations in ecologically sensitive areas. The petitioner emphasizes the importance of determining carrying capacity to assess the availability of essential services like water, sewerage, infrastructure, parking, health, and emergency services. This assessment can help set limits on tourist inflow and vehicles while preserving ecological balance.
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