Context: A 13-member technical committee was proposed by the Union government to evaluate the ‘carrying capacity’ of 13 Himalayan States, including cities and eco-sensitive zones.

• The Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court for taking steps to assess the carrying capacity of the 13 Himalayan states in a time-bound manner.

• The guidelines were prepared by G.B Pant National Institute Himalayan Environment — an institute working under the aegis of the MoEF.

• The affidavit comes in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking for no master plan, area development or zonal plans to ensure a planned growth in the Himalayan region.

What is carrying capacity?

• The carrying capacity is the maximum population size that an ecosystem can sustain without getting degraded. The population size is limited by environmental factors like adequate food, shelter, water, and mates.

• If these needs are not met, the population will decrease until the resource rebounds.

What environmental challenges are faced in the Himalayan states?

• Population Growth: The Himalayan States struggle to support an increasing number of residents without harming the environment.

• Infrastructure Needs: They need roads and buildings, but construction can damage the delicate ecosystem. For example, post the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, road-widening projects continued despite concerns.

• Fragile Geography: The region’s unique topography makes development tricky. In January, land issues in Joshimath, Uttarakhand showed this.

• Balancing Act: There’s a need to balance between development and preserving the environment. Himachal Pradesh’s recent floods, caused by building on vulnerable mountains, are a case in point.

Himalayan states and eco-sensitive zones

• The Indian Himalayan Region is spread across 13 Indian States/Union Territories, namely Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Assam and West Bengal, stretching across 2500 km.

• Nearly 50 million people reside in this region, which is characterised by a diverse demographic, and versatile economic, environmental, social and political systems.

• In order to manage and conserve biodiversity, the MoEF notified, in the year 2002, Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) around the Protected Areas, and Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) that have unique biological resources to protect the biodiversity in areas having ecological significance.

• On the basis of proposals and recommendations of the State Government, the MoEF has notified the ESZs under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

• Section ‘3’ of the ESZ Notification provides the Guidelines for preparation of the Zonal Master Plan (ZMP) by the respective State Government.

• As far as the 13 States of Indian Himalayan Region are concerned, 2 ESAs and 92 ESZs have been already notified.

What are the various proposals to overcome these challenges?

• Expert Committee Suggestion: Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud recommended an expert committee to conduct a “complete and comprehensive” study on the Himalayan region’s carrying capacity.

• Technical Committee Proposal: Following the suggestion, the Centre proposed a 13-member technical committee to delve into the matter.

• Carrying Capacity Guidelines: In 2020, the Centre circulated guidelines among the 13 Himalayan States. The goal was to assess the carrying capacity of hill stations, cities, and eco-sensitive zones in these states.

• Reminder from Environment Ministry: The Environment Ministry reminded the states in May to undertake the aforementioned study and submit their findings.

National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE)

• The National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). 

• The mission is aimed at evolving management measures for sustaining and safeguarding the Himalayan glaciers and mountain ecosystem. 

• The measures include enhanced monitoring of the Himalayan ecosystem through establishment of the monitoring network, promoting community based management, human resource development and strengthening regional cooperation.