News
NGT Issues Notice to Himachal Pradesh Government Over Irregular Construction
Tribunal Seeks Response from Multiple Agencies Over Lack of Proper Oversight
Shimla, Updated At : 19:22 PM Aug 25, 2025 IST
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Himachal Pradesh government, expressing concern over rampant and irregular construction activities being carried out in violation of environmental norms. The tribunal also sought responses from several government agencies, citing lack of effective oversight.
The NGT took suo motu cognizance of a report published in The Tribune on August 8, 2025, titled “Illegal constructions thriving in Himachal amid poor checks.” The tribunal noted that such activities appeared to violate the provisions of 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 Department of Town and Country Planning, Urban Development and Environment, Department of Science, Technology & Climate Change, Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dehradun.
The tribunal directed the concerned departments to file their responses through affidavits before the next hearing. Agencies intending to submit replies directly have been asked instead to assist the court virtually, with formal submissions to be made via counsel at least a week before the hearing.
Quoting its order dated August 20, the NGT said: “The news report raises serious concerns regarding compliance with environmental norms and the implementation of statutory provisions under the prescribed Acts.” The matter has now been listed for November 11, 2025. The tribunal observed that the issue pertains to the unchecked rise of illegal constructions across Himachal Pradesh due to inadequate monitoring and enforcement.
Diary Times report highlighted that despite the state government’s 2023 ban on such constructions in the aftermath of floods in Kullu and Shimla districts, unauthorized building activities continued unabated. This, it said, reflected the Town and Country Planning Department’s lack of seriousness in enforcing the directive.
The article also underlined that riverside buildings are often swept away or severely damaged during floods. It pointed out that once approvals are granted by the TCP, little to no follow-up inspections take place. Furthermore, the state’s vulnerability is compounded by the fact that nearly half of Himachal Pradesh falls under Seismic Zone V, in addition to being prone to flash floods and other natural disasters. The report also noted widespread violations of Floor Area Ratio (FAR) norms, with multi-storey structures being raised illegally.
