Shimla, June 25: Delivering a strong message on environmental conservation, Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia on Thursday said that protecting nature and forests cannot be left to the government alone and must become a collective responsibility of every citizen.
Launching the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department's statewide plantation campaign at the historic Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Rashtrapati Nivas, Shimla, the Chief Justice warned that climate change and global warming have emerged as serious challenges whose impact is becoming increasingly visible across the Himalayan region.
Planting a sapling to mark the beginning of the campaign, Justice Sandhawalia said the devastating floods, landslides and other natural disasters witnessed in Himachal Pradesh in recent years were clear reminders that development must remain balanced and in harmony with nature.
He stressed that reckless exploitation of natural resources and unchecked urbanisation were disturbing the fragile ecological balance of the hills.
Recalling Shimla's greener past, the Chief Justice noted that large parts of the hill town were once covered with dense forests.
However, rapid urban expansion and indiscriminate felling of trees have steadily eroded the city's green cover over the years. If corrective measures are not taken in time, he cautioned, future generations may have to pay a heavy environmental price.
Calling for greater public participation in afforestation and conservation efforts, Justice Sandhawalia appreciated the initiatives being undertaken by the Forest Department and suggested that environmental protection should be transformed into a people's movement rather than remaining confined to official programmes.
Welcoming the Chief Justice and other dignitaries, Professor Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi, Director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, said the institution was committed not only to academic excellence but also to environmental stewardship.
He said preserving the natural heritage of the historic campus remained a key priority and that the plantation drive was a significant step towards strengthening ecological sustainability.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) Dr Sanjay Sood highlighted the state's ongoing efforts to expand green cover through flagship programmes such as the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana, Chief Minister's Forest Expansion Scheme and the Rajiv Gandhi Green Adoption Scheme.
He said the Forest Department has set a target of carrying out plantation over more than 5,000 hectares across the state and aims to substantially increase Himachal Pradesh's green cover by 2030 with active public support.
The programme was attended by High Court judges Justice Vivek Singh Thakur, Justice Virender Singh, Justice Jialal Bhardwaj and Justice Romesh Verma, besides senior forest officers, scholars, fellows and staff members of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study.
