Dehradun, April 28 -- Uttarakhand high court on Monday directed the chief secretary of the state to constitute a high-powered committee to examine environmental and infrastructure concerns in Mussoorie and submit specific recommendations to the state government within eight weeks. The directions were issued by a division bench comprising justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari and justice Siddhartha Sah while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by activist Pravesh Pant raising concerns over the ecological condition of the hill station. According to Abhijay Negi, counsel for the petitioner, the high-powered committee will include the principal secretary (home), principal secretary (urban development) and principal secretary (tourism). The chief secretary has been directed to constitute the committee within two weeks. The committee has been asked to issue a public notice and invite suggestions from residents of Mussoorie and other stakeholders. It will also provide an opportunity for personal hearings to various groups including local residents, medical staff, taxi associations and the petitioner before preparing its report. The panel will then submit its detailed and specific recommendations to the state government within eight weeks for further action. The PIL alleges that Mussoorie, popularly known as the "Queen of Hills", is facing serious environmental stress due to unregulated development and growing tourist pressure. The petition warns that the hill station is nearing a potential "man-made disaster" if immediate corrective measures are not taken. In the petition, Pant argued that the town has exceeded its carrying capacity, the level of population and infrastructure that the fragile Himalayan ecosystem can sustain without long-term damage. He pointed out that Mussoorie was originally planned for a much smaller population but is now witnessing massive inflow of tourists every year along with rapid construction of hotels, commercial establishments and residential buildings. The plea also drew parallels with the land sinking crisis in Joshimath, stating that Mussoorie lies on a fragile geological belt where excessive construction and inadequate drainage systems are weakening the soil and rock layers. The petitioner further alleged that areas designated as "freeze zones" since 1996 to restrict construction are witnessing continued development. The PIL also highlighted reports of widening cracks in buildings and roads in Landour Bazaar, which residents attribute to water seepage caused by the absence of a proper sewage system. The petition has additionally raised concerns over poor solid waste management, claiming that construction and demolition waste is often dumped into local ravines, blocking natural drainage channels and increasing the risk of landslides during the monsoon. Other issues flagged include improper disposal of biomedical waste and increasing traffic congestion, which has contributed to rising air pollution levels in the hill town. The petitioner has urged the High Court to direct the state government to conduct a scientific assessment of Mussoorie's carrying capacity and implement measures such as stricter monitoring of tourist inflow and installation of adequate sewage treatment infrastructure to protect the fragile mountain ecosystem....