Himachal CM Reviews ₹2,687-Crore World Bank-Backed Disaster Management Project

The Himachal Pradesh government has had to allocate substantial resources to restore infrastructure damaged by recurrent natural disasters, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Tuesday while reviewing the Himachal Pradesh Resilient Development and Disaster Risk Management (HP-READY) project, worth ₹2,687 crore. The project is set to be launched in January 2026.

Chairing a meeting with senior officials from the World Bank, the Chief Minister noted that the adverse effects of climate change in Himachal Pradesh are intensifying, leading to significant loss of life and widespread destruction of vital infrastructure. “Frequent natural calamities have forced the state to commit considerable resources to rebuild damaged public assets,” he said.

Sukhu added that through strategic collaboration with the World Bank, the state government is implementing this flagship initiative and has already identified several priority projects. The HP-READY mission, he said, will not only help compensate for damages caused by disasters between 2023 and 2025, but also strengthen and rebuild the state’s infrastructure to better withstand future calamities.

The Chief Minister explained that the project aims to enhance early warning systems, repair damaged roads, bridges, canals, and buildings, and develop resilient public services. It will also focus on promoting sustainable livelihoods through initiatives such as “Green Panchayats” and improving risk-informed social protection and insurance mechanisms.

Emphasizing the need for climate-resilient infrastructure to support farmers and horticulturists, Sukhu said the project would ensure that their livelihoods remain secure even during disasters. Under the initiative, Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage facilities will be established at 10 locations across the state, allowing farmers to preserve their produce and avoid financial losses in adverse conditions.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) K.K. Pant, Special Secretary D.C. Rana, World Bank team leader for the project Anoop Karanth, and disaster management experts Vijay and Sheena Arora.