The Himachal Pradesh High Court has initiated suo motu proceedings concerning reports of environmental degradation and risks to life and property in Meeru village, Kinnaur district, attributed to multiple hydroelectric projects.
Court Action
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chander Negi registered a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) based on a representation received at the Chief Justice's secretariat. The representation highlighted ecological degradation and threats to local residents due to the projects.
Details of the Complaint
According to the representation, the project initially proposed laying pipelines on the surface, but the executing agencies later shifted to underground installation. This change allegedly led to large-scale dumping of debris and muck on hill slopes and downstream areas, adversely affecting forest land and increasing the risk of landslides and environmental instability.
Previous Legal Context
The bench also took note of an earlier order in a writ petition involving M/s Roura Non-Conventional Energy Pvt Ltd of Baddi, Solan district. That petition sought directions for the smooth execution of the 20-megawatt Roura-II hydroelectric project. Meeru gram panchayat and local residents initially resisted the project but later gave an undertaking before the high court not to obstruct it, following which the petition was disposed of.
Court's Intervention
Observing that the representation was submitted by a person from a remote area who may not be able to easily approach the court, the High Court deemed it appropriate to intervene. Notices have been issued to the state government, the deputy commissioner and deputy conservator of forests of Kinnaur, the state pollution control board, and the pradhan of Meeru, directing them to file their responses by June 17.
This case underscores the ongoing tension between development and environmental protection in ecologically sensitive regions of Himachal Pradesh.
