Shimla, Aug. 5 -- Amid rising environmental concerns, the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Friday issued notices and sought a status report from the State Government and the Municipal Corporation of Shimla on the structural safety of the 140-year-old underground water tank situated beneath the historic Ridge.

The court was acting on a Public Interest Litigation (CW PIL No. 66 of 2025) filed by former Deputy Mayor and environmentalist Tikender Singh Panwar.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma observed that the commercial use of the Ridge, including vending, exhibitions, and allowing heavy vehicles, posed a serious threat to the century-old tank, which was built using lime and mortar during t...