Sanctuary under siege

HIMACHAL Pradesh, hailed for its breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity, is now grappling with an alarming trend of rule-bending to accommodate infrastructure development. The latest in a series of violations is the decision to widen a road within the protected Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandi. This action not only threatens the local ecosystem but also raises serious questions about the state’s developmental priorities.

Himachal’s recent record of such projects is deeply concerning. The four-laning of highways, such as the Kalka-Shimla and Baddi-Nalagarh roads, has already demonstrated the consequences of reckless construction. Local communities have suffered from landslides due to unsafe slope-cutting, while inadequate retaining walls have worsened the damage. Homes in the vicinity of these highways have developed dangerous cracks, and the environmental degradation continues unabated. Similarly, pollution norms were flagrantly violated in the Baddi-Nalagarh highway project, leading to a deterioration of air quality. The road-widening within the sanctuary is another instance of Himachal bulldozing its way through ecologically sensitive zones. Experts have long warned against such construction in hilly terrains, where unscientific planning exacerbates the risk of landslides and habitat destruction. The devastation along the Mandi-Kullu and Kalka-Shimla highways during the monsoon is a testament to the dangers of ignoring ecological guidelines.

Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu’s acknowledgment of the role of indiscriminate construction in the state’s monsoon-related destruction underlines the urgency of the issue. If development continues without adherence to environmental laws, HP risks destroying the very resources that sustain its economy. It is time for the state government to enforce stricter environmental regulations and adopt more sustainable construction practices before irreparable damage is done to its natural heritage.