The Government of Himachal Pradesh, on September 04, 2025, issued the Draft Policy Guidelines for Cutting, Conservation, and Preservation of Hill 2025.
The following has been stated: -
•Himachal Pradesh faces severe hazards such as landslides, subsidence, cloudbursts, and building collapses, often worsened by unscientific hill cutting and dumping.
•Following CWPIL No. 13/2021, the High Court directed the State on January 13, 2023, to frame a policy for hill conservation and regulate hill cutting.
•A draft policy has been prepared to ensure safe, scientific construction practices and prevent environmental hazards.
•Existing regulations under the HP Town & Country Planning Act, 197,7 already limit hill cutting and require proper retaining structures.
•The new guidelines emphasize area-specific planning, slope stability, environmental protection, and sustainable hill-area development.
•Cutting of hilly or low-lying land is prohibited without prior intimation/permission from the competent authority, with defined exceptions and definitions.
•Comments and suggestions are invited from the general public on the Draft by November 28, 2025 (5:00 PM)
The detailed notification is given in the document below.
