The Himachal Pradesh High Court has instructed the state government to provide comprehensive information about the use of Local Area Development Authority (LADA) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds derived from hydropower projects in the Kinnaur district. The court believes this issue warrants judicial oversight to confirm that benefits are reaching the communities affected by these projects.

This directive was made during a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) hearing that focused on waste management and environmental protection in the tribal area. The bench, consisting of Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chander Negi, underscored the necessity of assessing whether monetary collections from hydropower initiatives have been appropriately utilised to support the welfare and development of local populations impacted by these ventures.

Petition Highlights Environmental Concerns

The PIL was submitted by Sourabh Kumar Negi, who raised alarm over environmental harm attributed to construction activities associated with hydropower projects. The petitioner called for a coordinated investigation by the Horticulture Department alongside the Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board to examine claims regarding damage to apple orchards, reportedly caused by hydro-blasting and dust pollution during project execution.

One significant request in the petition is for a designated portion of LADA and CSR funds to be allocated towards creating lasting green job opportunities for local youth through the establishment of an “Eco-Grid” volunteer programme. This initiative aims to integrate environmental preservation with sustainable employment in the environmentally sensitive tribal region.

During the hearing, the High Court acknowledged that hydropower projects in Himachal Pradesh offer 12 per cent of free electricity to the state. Furthermore, according to the state’s hydropower policy, 1 per cent of project revenue is earmarked for local area development, supplemented by another 1 per cent funding from the state government. Given these provisions, the bench expressed the need for careful scrutiny of the utilisation of this combined 2 per cent of LADA and CSR funding in Kinnaur.

Call for Enhanced Environmental Measures

The court was also updated that the corpus held by the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) under the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests is slated for transfer to the state government. This development adds another layer to the discussion surrounding fund utilisation.

In addition to advocating for transparency regarding fund deployment, the PIL demands effective enforcement of the Solid Waste Management Rules and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 in various parts of Kinnaur, including National Highway-5. The petitioner seeks the establishment of a long-term sustainable waste management system designed to bolster environmental safeguarding in this delicate Himalayan area.

Furthermore, the petitioner has suggested the establishment of a judiciary-monitored “Tribal Eco-Grid Environment and Livelihood Fund.” This fund would consolidate financial resources gathered through schemes aimed at plastic buy-back, the Kinnaur Gate Green Cess, and environmental compensation charges. Its purpose would be to finance waste management initiatives, transportation expenses, and to provide monthly stipends to tribal youth volunteers focused on conservation efforts.

The High Court has issued a notice in response to the petition and has mandated that the Himachal Pradesh government present all pertinent records regarding the utilisation of LADA and CSR funds at the next scheduled hearing on August 17.

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