Centre supports idea of limiting tourists at hill stations across all 13 Himalayan states in India

The Centre has supported the plea requesting the determination of the carrying capacity of hill stations, cities, and eco-sensitive zones across all 13 Himalayan states. As per a TOI report, the recommendation was made in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that seeks to curb the influx of tourists to overcrowded hill stations, particularly in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and other Himalayan states, which have recently witnessed a series of devastating landslides and natural disasters.

The Centre has proposed the establishment of a high-power technical committee consisting of 14 members, led by the director of the G B Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment. This committee, composed of experts in the fields of environment, hydrology, ecology, and climate studies, will be tasked with evaluating the reports generated by the respective states. Its role is pivotal in assisting the court in making informed decisions regarding this pressing issue.

In an affidavit submitted to the court, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change disclosed that it had previously disseminated guidelines for assessing the carrying capacity of hill stations, cities, and eco-sensitive zones to all 13 Himalayan states through a letter dated January 31, 2020. Additionally, reminders were sent to the states, urging them to conduct the necessary studies and submit action plans to expedite the determination of carrying capacity.


The ministry has implored the court to direct all 13 states to furnish time-bound action taken reports and action plans, aligning with the guidelines prepared by the G B Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment. The affidavit further stated, "Direct all 13 states to constitute a committee, in a time-bound manner, headed by the Chief Secretary of the respective state and comprising such members as deemed appropriate by the Chief Secretary, for conducting a multi-disciplinary study as per the guidelines prepared by the Institute."