Himachal Pradesh News
Unchecked Construction Puts Fragile Dhauladhar Slopes at Risk, Ignoring Repeated Warnings
Unregulated construction and power projects in Himachal Pradesh’s eco-fragile Dhauladhar region continue despite warnings from the Supreme Court, NGT, and scientific studies. IIT Ropar’s latest research highlights the state’s high multi-hazard vulnerability, raising concern over landslides, floods, and avalanches intensified by reckless human activity.
The Himachal Pradesh government has yet to rein in the large-scale construction activity expanding across the eco-fragile Dhauladhar hills in the Kangra valley. Over the past fifteen years, more than a dozen hydroelectric projects have been built on the Neugal, Binwa, Baner and Gajj rivers, all originating from the Dhauladhar range. Despite repeated concerns expressed by the Supreme Court about unregulated development in the hill state, little has been done to bring construction under proper oversight.
Power companies have significantly disrupted the region’s delicate ecosystem through indiscriminate hill-cutting, rock blasting, tunnelling, and the dumping of debris into local rivers.
A recent study by IIT Ropar has warned that 45 per cent of Himachal Pradesh is vulnerable to landslides, floods, and avalanches. The analysis—part of a broader assessment by researchers from multiple IITs—identified areas at high risk of simultaneous natural hazards. According to the study, slopes between 5.9° and 16.4° and elevations up to 1,600 metres face a heightened danger of landslides and floods, while slopes between 16.8° and 41.5° at higher altitudes are more prone to avalanches and landslides. Elevations above 3,000 metres were found to carry the “highest risk.”
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Yet, construction of multi-storey buildings continues in these sensitive zones.
The study notes that flood- and landslide-prone areas are mainly located in lower-elevation valleys and foothills across Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur and Chamba districts. Meanwhile, high-altitude regions such as Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti face greater avalanche threats.
Researchers underscored that the rising human interference in eco-sensitive Himalayan landscapes—combined with climate change, illegal construction on unstable slopes, and shrinking green cover—has intensified the impact of natural disasters.
Environmental groups have repeatedly warned private developers of the risks posed by power projects, four-lane highways and hotel construction. These warnings were largely ignored, contributing to the severe flash floods and cloudbursts witnessed during last monsoon season.
The persistent inaction and disregard for environmental regulations—despite repeated alerts from the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal—remain major concerns. Even though Himachal falls under seismic zone V, restrictions on high-rise buildings continue to be openly violated, not just by citizens but by government agencies themselves.
