Proposed Shivdham on forestland a big ‘no’

Dipender Manta

Voices of dissent are being heard over a proposal of the state government to construct Shivdham, a temple, at Kangnidhar, which is a demarcated protected forest area, near Mandi town.

Local residents have urged the government to find land at some other place for the construction of Shivdham and other developmental projects to protect the ecology of Kangnidhar as well as Mandi town.

They say that Kangnidhar is a demarcated protected forest area, considered an oxygen supplier to the town. They fear that if Shivdham and other developmental projects are constructed, the ecology of the area will be destroyed on the pretext of promoting tourism in Mandi. 

Earlier, the government had constructed a helipad at Kangnidhar, for which a huge tract of protected forestland was devastated inviting the ire of many social activists and local people. Congress leaders are also opposing the government proposals for Shivdham and other developmental projects. The district Congress had even submitted a memorandum to the government and the Governor to stop all kinds of construction in the Kangnidhar area for the sake of its ecology.

Advocate Sanjay Mandiyal, a social activist of Mandi town, says that the demarcated Kangnidhar forest area needs to be protected. “Recently, a helipad was constructed in the Kangnidhar forest area at the cost of the ecology. Now, the government is planning to construct Shivdham and other development projects there. For the purpose, the entire protected forest area will be destroyed,” he adds.

Birbal Sharma, a local resident, says that there is need to protect this forest cover. Kangnidhar forest is considered the oxygen supplier to Mandi town and its nearby areas. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of the area.

“This forestland is a habitat of wildlife animals, flora and fauna. The erstwhile ruler of Mandi state used to visit this forest area barefoot to pay obeisance to a local deity. During the Congress regime, BJP leaders of Mandi district, including Jai Ram Thakur who was then MLA from the Seraj Assembly constituency, had opposed all kinds of construction at Kangnidhar. Hence, no construction took place there,” he adds.

Sharma says that now the BJP government led by Jai Ram Thakur is planning to destroy this forest cover for development projects in contrast to its own stand. 

Senior Congress leader and former Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur says that Kangnigarh is the heart of Mandi town, as it protects the ecology of the area. It should be protected at any cost and the government should identify land at some other place for Shivdham and other projects.

“The state government had constructed a helipad at Kangnidhar in utter disregard for the environment, to benefit a contractor. There was no need to construct the helipad, because there is Padal ground in Mandi town for the purpose,” he says.

The Chief Minister says, “I am aware about the concerns of environmental activists in Mandi town over the issue. People have given a mixed response to the government proposal of Shivdham and other development projects at Kangnidhar”.

“The government wants to protect the Kangnidhar forest cover to save the ecology of the area. We are trying to identify land at some other place in the vicinity of Mandi town for Shivdham and other projects for the promotion of tourism,” he adds.