Shimla: Taking serious note of viral videos showing rampant garbage dumping in forested areas of Kasol in Himachal Pradesh, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has initiated suo motu proceedings under environmental laws and directed key authorities to respond with action taken reports.
A two-member bench of the NGT, comprising Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi (judicial member) and Dr A. Senthil Vel (expert member), passed the order on June 5, registering the matter as original application No. 252/2025 (EZ).
Acting on a news item titled ‘From paradise to landfill? Viral video shows famous Himachal Pradesh hill station turned into a garbage dump’, the tribunal observed that the visuals circulating online depicted “alarming scenes” of plastic bags, bottles, food wrappers, and other non-biodegradable waste scattered across verdant forest landscapes in and around Kasol.
Citing the seriousness of the issue, the bench noted, “The matter highlighted in the news item and the viral video involves substantial question relating to environment arising out of implementation of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.”
The bench also took cognisance of public outrage, with many social media users questioning the role of local authorities and the efficacy of the so-called “green tax” levied at state entry points.
Stating that the power of the Tribunal to act suo motu has been upheld by the Supreme Court, the bench impleaded the Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board (HPPCB), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Regional Office (North Central Zone) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Deputy Commissioner of Kullu district as party respondents.
“Let notices be issued to the respondents for filing their response or reply by way of affidavit at least one week before the next date of hearing,” the bench directed, while listing the matter for further hearing on August 4, 2025.
