‘Himachal is Paying the Price for Unbridled Growth & Greed’
Rajesh Chandel, a hospitality professional and native of Himachal Pradesh, says unplanned growth and rampant exploitation of resources put the hill state in a dangerous position. His views:
According to government estimates, since the arrival of monsoon in mid-June, Himachal Pradesh has incurred a loss of over ₹5,000 crore. And the monsoon mayhem continues, this figure is increasing by the day with fresh reviews and assessments. Though the government is trying its best to compensate the losses to the best of its ability, most of the losses are bound to repeat again if we do not mend our ways of exploiting nature in every possible way.
The entire state is falling short of river beds thanks to the uncontrolled building activity that has encroached the threshold area of the rivers leaving no options for the rivers other than to break free and swallow everything that comes its way. Besides, the deforestation is also being carried ruthlessly leaving no option for the rain water to seep back in the ground; this also results in more frequent landslides.
The state saw this kind of destruction in the early 90s and that too when constructions and deforestation was not on such dangerous levels. This time, nature has been more ruthless and not a single district of the state has been spared of mass destruction. Sand mining mafias are also adding dangerously to the cause of the extinction of the state and the authorities still do not have any concrete measures to check this illegal activity.
About 40 years ago, about 50 percent of the roads were natural (kachchi), leaving ample breathing space for the soil and a majority of the rain water to go back into the soil. Now, more than 90 percent of the roads and communicable paths are either concrete or pitch roads leaving very little breathing space.
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Besides this, the tourism industry, which was full of hope to bounce back after the Covid pandemic, the calamity has washed away the hopes of hoteliers, business owners and locals who were dependent on it.
The unprecedented rainfall (from June 15 to July 15) left thousands of tourists stranded in the rain-ravaged areas in Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and Mandi. Over 70,000 of them were evacuated, including many foreigners. Landslides and flash floods triggered by the heavy rainfall also washed away sections of many highways and damaged many bridges across the state, damaging connectivity.
The tourist footfall before the floods touched 1.6 crore. It was more than the pre-pandemic stage. But after the disaster hit Himachal tourist spots, the footfall has reduced occupancy to barely 2 to 7 percent as against the 75 to 80 percent during this time of the year.
What I could suggest is that now, when nothing can be done about the unplanned development (read construction) along the river beads, plains and mountains and uncontrolled deforestation, the government should wake up and take strict corrective and restrictive measures to check the blind race of development. Besides, guarding our natural resources and putting a check on uncontrolled construction and mining, efforts should also be made to spread public awareness about our natural resources without which we stand nowhere.
The narrator is the vice president of Ghandharvi Builders, a private hospitality group in Himachal Pradesh
As told to Rajat Rai
As sale of agriculture land to non agriculturist/non himachali banned , similar imbargo should be put on sale of multiple residential property in the state. People from out of state having spare money buying flats but staying for only a month in the entire year. There are some central govt. Offices in Shimla purchased flats from housing board but no one is liv ok ng in those and turning into depleted state. Thus there is waste of govt resources and putting unnecessary construction pressure on the hills. So many universities opened in the state with very low enrollment but they grabbed land from govt on subsides rates and created huge infrastructure with an eye o n turning these into hotels and later stage.
Absolutely right. I was visiting himachal for a long time and i saw the determination. Indeed the greed and mindless tourism leaving it dirty and unsustainable robbing its very beauty and tranquility. Therefore i stopped going to himachal. It is like chopping the branch of a tree on which one is sitting.
Its hightime that himachal govt and its native take serious action to regulate tourism and impose strictisest environmental laws to protect its glory.
Himachal has Nature to Enjoy , Experience for People of Other Area’s so People of Other Area’s Come to Himachal for Enjoying Godly Gifted Beauty ; On the Other Side Nearby States have Better Career , Professional Opportunities , In That Case People of Himachal go to Those Area’s for Better Opportunities(Future Prospects).In Nutshell All States of India are part of Same Country ; So To Discourage , Scold People of Other States for Every Wrong thing is Highly Uncalled for.
Fact is that both BJP and Congress have opened the state for tourism development to outsiders without any checks and balances in place. The revenue and land records department documents are a sad tale of forgery. And local politicians and administration is hand in glove. Forest, PWD, Water works department just take their cut and keep quiet.
As a matter of fact Nature as a whole , Planet as a whole , Cosmos as a whole is being gang raped by the Greedy , Lusty – Business world .
Let the SUPREME POWER act at its own way and punish those responsible for it .
This planet will be hit by Nature to an extent that humans will rot in millions and Trillions .
Take a round of the world , all countries are in turmoil. Iran yesterday had 51 degrees Celsius .
Let the nature take its own course and allow it to do and destroy , devastate , and disappear into the mother earth what is not needed .
Added to the above facts, construction of four lanes, governments turning blind eye to the ill and adverse effects on nature of such so called development activities, digging up of hill sides by construction companies, local people and government agencies are adding to the gravity of the situation. Also encroachments on forest lands which is going on unchecked for last several decades is adding to the pathetic state of affairs in our state. Soon in dry months there are going to be forest fires which is going to add to the problem with everyone turning a blind eye.
People here dant even know the real reasons of anything
They will say like of greed of Himachalis have done all this which Results in loss of properties .
My questions are
Do you want us to sleep on trees .
Do you not create homes for ur family u don’t provide for them
Do you not feed ur people –
So if you don’t know anything about anyone please don’t play the blame game.
It’s nature it behaves like that. Other states won’t understand because tehet dsbt have hills and slopes and rivers and rainfall , greenery like we are having
You are living in a cement world , with cemented hearts and brain so you won’t understand
All politicians, Bureaucrats are plundering Public Exchequer. Govt Offices School, College are opened. Buildings are constructed without proper justification The objective is to give jobs to own persons. No one is there to ask financial Prudence. Huge salary is disbursed to staff without corresponding service. Resulting price rise. Is there any one on this land to find out the cost of administration, cost of education per student, cost of an MLA, Minister. We the tax payers direct/indirect bear the burden round the clock 24×7.
Being born { 1955 } and brought up in Shimla right upto 1984 our generation has had a ringside view of degradation, destruction, and molestation of the pristine hill areas of Himachal led by Shimla. This all round mayhem of nature is led by non other than sons of soil who Ironically are major stake holders in a thriving biosphere. But greed and avarice have won. Add to it short sighted politicians(Sanjaul slum in Shimla, s periphery courtesy VB Singh Govt ) and a mute judiciary) and mad SUV riding horses from plains the recipe for destruction is complete.
The article has very rightly brought out the facts, the situation is really very alarming. The illegal mining, encroachment by constructing houses on small nalas and disposal of debris along nalas and rivers have exaggerated the flash floods and landslides. Even the agencies and authorities responsible for safe disposal of debris are merely concerned about this hazardous act. The construction on or along nalas has blocked the safe passage of runoff from hills. The runoff amount has increased greatly due to concrete construction of houses, buildings, roads and other infrastructures has reduced the seepage and percolation of rain water. The unscientific disposal of excavated soil here and there enhances its weight after absorbing rain water leads to huge and aggressive landslides . The only panacea of problem is political will which is lacking in the system due to politicians short term goals and vote politics. Authorities and officers are helpless and taking easy routes for their safe and hassle free postings.
