Delegation meets Nadda, urges him to scrap Bijli Mahadev ropeway project

A delegation led by former member of Parliament Maheshwar Singh, comprising members of the Bijli Mahadev Sangharsh Samiti and the Bijli Mahadev Mandir Committee, met a three-member panel headed by Union Health Minister JP Nadda in New Delhi today. The meeting was convened to discuss growing opposition to the proposed aerial ropeway connecting the revered Bijli Mahadev shrine atop a hill in Kullu.

Fateh Singh Negi, treasurer of the temple committee, stated that the delegation presented a comprehensive dossier detailing past protests, environmental concerns and the verdict of deities during a recent Jagati — a divine assembly. The panel reportedly gave the submissions a patient hearing and assured the delegation that a report would be forwarded to the Prime Minister. Negi expressed optimism, saying, “We are hopeful of a favourable decision to scrap the project, which we will oppose under all circumstances.”

Maheshwar Singh, who serves as the Chharibardar (chief caretaker) of Lord Raghunath and is a descendant of the erstwhile Kullu royal family, had earlier appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for intervention. In response, the PM constituted a committee comprising BJP president JP Nadda, Arun Singh and Mahender Pandey to engage with stakeholders and assess the viability of the ropeway project.

Legal resistance has also intensified. The Bijli Mahadev Mandir Committee, along with local resident Nachiketa represented by advocate Ajay Marwah, filed petitions with the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The tribunal issued notices to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), Himachal Pradesh government, State Forest Department, Pollution Control Board, and the Kullu Deputy Commissioner.

During the NGT hearing on October 17, the Advocate General for Himachal Pradesh clarified that the state government had a limited role in the project, which is being executed by the NHLML. He emphasised that no environmental clearances had been granted by state authorities, underscoring the Centre’s primary responsibility in the matter.

Public opposition to the ropeway project has been mounting for years. Numerous protests have taken place, including a planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar, which was later cancelled due to a natural disaster. Former HPMC vice-chairman Ram Singh had also reached out to PM Modi and JP Nadda via email and registered post to highlight local concerns. The villagers are demanding the cancellation of the Rs 284 crore, 2.4 km ropeway project that aims to link Pirdi with the Bijli Mahadev shrine.

Interestingly, Prime Minister Modi was a frequent visitor to the shrine during his tenure as BJP in-charge of Himachal Pradesh in the 1990s, adding a personal dimension to the controversy as the BJP claimed it to be his dream project.

On the political front, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has clarified that the ropeway is a Central government initiative. He noted that Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur had worked to revive the decades-old proposal in alignment with the wishes of the dev samaj (spiritual community). Sukhu emphasized the project’s potential to boost tourism and acknowledged the Centre’s significant investment, expressing hope that decisions would reflect both development goals and local sentiments.