Shimla, June 5 -- The Himachal Pradesh high court has taken cognisance of public and ecological concerns regarding anti-hail guns in the state's apple belt and has asked the state government to explain "if any conclusive study has been done by the State Pollution Control Board or whether the state has issued any guideline on the said issue."

Anti-hail guns are widely used in parts of Himachal's apple belt, particularly in Shimla district, to protect fruit crops from hailstorms. The devices produce powerful shock waves directed towards the sky with the aim of disrupting hail formation. While orchardists consider them an important crop-protection measure.

Division bench comprising chief justice GS Sandhawalia and justice Ranjan Sharma iss...