📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Prime Minister's Office
Politics
Himachal Pradesh to Refuse Approvals for Water‑Intensive, Polluting Industries
✍️ India Today
🗓 28 Aug 2026, 03:09 AM
👁 7
The Himachal Pradesh government announced it will reject new clearances for industries that consume large volumes of water and cause significant pollution.
The state cabinet in Shimla approved a policy that will deny clearances to any new industrial projects deemed to be water‑intensive and polluting. The move comes amid growing concerns over dwindling water resources and the need to protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
Officials said the decision targets sectors that require large volumes of water for processing and generate hazardous effluents, which they argue are incompatible with the state’s sustainable development goals. The policy will apply to fresh applications and will also reassess pending proposals.
Industry bodies have warned that the ban could affect investment inflows, but the government maintains that environmental preservation takes precedence. It has urged entrepreneurs to explore cleaner technologies and to locate such facilities in regions with adequate water availability.
The environment department will monitor compliance and publish a list of projects that are excluded under the new guidelines.
Officials said the decision targets sectors that require large volumes of water for processing and generate hazardous effluents, which they argue are incompatible with the state’s sustainable development goals. The policy will apply to fresh applications and will also reassess pending proposals.
Industry bodies have warned that the ban could affect investment inflows, but the government maintains that environmental preservation takes precedence. It has urged entrepreneurs to explore cleaner technologies and to locate such facilities in regions with adequate water availability.
The environment department will monitor compliance and publish a list of projects that are excluded under the new guidelines.