Himachal’s fragile future Call for rethink on relief, resilience

The recent natural disaster in Himachal Pradesh has highlighted the urgent need to reassess the financial assistance framework for hill states. Given its fragile topography and heightened vulnerability to weather-induced calamities, Himachal Pradesh requires special consideration and consistent support from the Centre.

The calamity has caused massive damage to critical infrastructure, including power and water supply schemes, roads and bridges. The extent of destruction is so vast that permanent restoration will be a prolonged process. Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the state government has repeatedly emphasised the crucial role of the Centre in aiding Himachal’s recovery.

Geographically, the state sits at the confluence of the mighty Himalayas and the adjoining plains, a region prone to frequent tectonic activity. With the Himalayas still rising due to continuous geological plate movements, infrastructure development here is fraught with risks. Coordination between the Centre and the states is therefore vital to mitigate hazards like landslides, as underlined in the 2019 National Landslide Risk Management Strategy submitted to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The report recommended awareness campaigns, early warning systems and user-friendly landslide hazard maps as key measures.

In recent years, the Indian Himalayas have been battered by catastrophic deluges. This year’s monsoon, the heaviest in a century, triggered unprecedented landslides and flash floods in Himachal, leaving behind collapsed buildings, blocked roads, stranded populations and widespread devastation. Rescue efforts have been hampered by recurring landslides, while major highways such as the Chandigarh-Manali-Leh, Pathankot-Mandi and Shimla-Chandigarh stretches remain frequently disrupted, cutting off supply chains and isolating villages. The crisis has severely obstructed the delivery of food, fuel, medical aid and rescue teams to many inaccessible areas.

Adding to the challenge are hydropower projects, which remain sensitive to the state’s fragile geography. Large water reservoirs increase both humidity and pressure in the region, elevating the risk of landslides. “We cannot ignore the effects of development on the environment.

Before initiating future infrastructure projects, environmental impact assessments must be thorough and sincere or Himachal may face similar tragedies again,” cautioned Dr Ashok Kumar Sarial, former Vice-Chancellor of HP Agriculture University.

In the wake of the calamity, the Himachal Pradesh Government has urged the Centre for interim relief. Yet, no financial assistance has been released so far, leaving the state to battle one of its worst crises with limited resources.