THE Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has recommended a slew of measures — short-term and long-term — to protect the environment and ecology of Himachal Pradesh. The measures include assessing the carrying capacity of major tourist destinations, completing pending compensatory afforestation works, considering mandatory environmental clearance for construction or expansion of hill roads with two or more lanes, and railway lines.

The recommendations were made in a report following examination of the thematic areas of hydroelectric projects, compensatory afforestation, roads and tourism and multi-storey buildings, on the directions of the Supreme Court.…