Forest Dept removes over100 solar lights on way to Chamunda temple

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Dharamsala, January 13

The Forest Department yesterday dismantled over 100 solar lights installed by local panchayats on the way to the ancient Himani Chamunda Temple under the Jan Sahyog scheme of the Himachal Government. These lights had been installed on the narrow track leading to the temple in high Dhauladhars for the convenience of the pilgrims who come here throughout the year.

Move taken after pollution plaint

Forest Department officials removed the solar lights put up on the Triund trek on a complaint by some unidentified people, who alleged these were causing light pollution. — Nipun Jindal, Kangra DC

Villagers said that it was high-handedness on the part of the Forest Department to remove these lights without informing the local panchayats that had installed these. They added that resentment prevailed in the area over the Forest Department’s action, as it had also hurt their religious sentiments.

A senior officer said that these lights were removed from forestland on the directions of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest as the panchayats had no environment clearance. He claimed that the lights had also become a hazard for wild animals.

Himani Chamunda is a 500-year-old temple situated at a height of 12,000 feet above the sea level in the Dhauladhars near Palampur. It is neither connected with road nor ropeway. Local villagers have constructed a 12-km narrow track to reach the temple.

The Forest Department has already diverted as many as 25 kanals of forestland around the Himani Chamunda temple to its trust to pave the way for the expansion and development of the shrine. And later, with the help of public contributions, they also installed solar lights.

The Himani Chamunda temple is a small structure built from hill stones and is considered the original Chamunda shrine. The temple has no power and water connection and only those willing to trek about 12 km from the present Chamunda Devi temple visit it. Successive state governments had announced that the temple would be developed and brought on a par with the Vashno Devi temple, which is situated in Jammu and Kashmir, to boost religious tourism.

With this in mind, a heli-taxi service was started to the temple. However, the helicopter service could not continue for most of the year because of adverse climatic conditions.

Gokul Butail, Principal Adviser (Innovation, Digital Technologies and Governance) to Sukhivinder Singh Sukhu, said here today that the Chief Minister had planned to develop a ropeway to the Himani Chamunda temple. Ropeway and Rapid Transport Development Corporation HP Ltd had prepared a detailed project report (DPR), which was pending with the Central Government for fund approval.