Addressing a gathering at the Ridge on the occasion of World Environment Day, the CM said Himachal plays a vital role in providing clean water and fresh air to North India and is therefore known as the “Lungs of North India”.
He, however, expressed concern that despite contributing ecological services worth nearly Rs 90,000 crore annually to the country, the state was not being adequately compensated by the Centre for these services.
Sukhu urged people to plant more trees, conserve water and reduce the use of plastic. He said rising global temperatures, changing weather patterns and the increasing frequency of natural disasters underscored the urgency of environmental protection.
Referring to the devastating natural calamities that struck the state in 2023 and 2025, the CM stressed the need to examine the causes behind such recurring disasters and highlighted the importance of forest conservation. He said the state government had set a target of increasing forest cover to 32 per cent by 2030.
Highlighting various environmental initiatives, Sukhu said electric mobility was being actively promoted in the state and that 297 new electric buses would soon be inducted into the Himachal Road Transport Corporation fleet.
He also announced the establishment of two biochar plants aimed at reducing forest fire incidents and generating employment opportunities. The plants will utilise dry pine needles and other biomass to produce biochar.
Addressing the issue of drug abuse, the CM said the government had launched a mass campaign against chitta and other narcotic substances.
“Himachal is the first state in the country where drug traffickers and chitta peddlers have been identified down to the panchayat level. Strict action is being taken in areas heavily affected by drug abuse,” he said.
Sukhu said the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act had been implemented effectively, resulting in the imprisonment of 174 drug traffickers and the seizure of assets worth Rs 51 crore. He said financial investigations into drug-related offences were also underway. “So far, 76 properties linked to drug activities have been identified and 17 such properties have been demolished,” he said.
The CM added that action had been taken against 123 government employees found involved in drug-related activities. Of them, 31 employees, including 21 police personnel, had been dismissed from service.
He also administered a pledge to the gathering for environmental protection and support for the anti-chitta campaign. On the occasion, the CM presented the ‘Environmental Excellence Awards 2025-26’ to institutions and individuals for their outstanding contributions to environmental conservation.
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