Kullu MLA defends Bijli Mahadev ropeway

Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur launched a scathing attack on critics opposing the proposed Bijli Mahadev ropeway, accusing them of using environmental concerns as a political tool ahead of the upcoming Panchayati Raj elections. Speaking at a press conference, Thakur alleged that the protests are less about conservation and more about electoral gains.

He pointed out that in 2009, nearly 1,344 trees were felled in the Bijli Mahadev area for transmission lines of a private hydroelectric project, yet the same voices now opposing the ropeway remained silent then. “This sudden activism reeks of opportunism,” he remarked, adding that environmental arguments are being raised selectively to mislead the public.

Thakur also emphasised that the required no-objection certificate (NOC) for the ropeway’s 3.2-km stretch was issued in 2018 by then-Chansari panchayat president Subhash Chand—a known BJP worker—during a BJP-led state government. He revealed that one of the current protest leaders had signed that very NOC, undermining their current opposition. “If someone now threatens self-immolation, they must explain why they approved the same project earlier,” he said.

Further criticising the inconsistencies of the opposition, Thakur noted that during the 2022 Assembly election campaign, BJP posters prominently featured the Bijli Mahadev ropeway as part of their “Mission Repeat” slogan. “Why disown what you once claimed as divine approval?” he questioned.

Highlighting his intervention for environmental safety, Thakur said the initial ropeway alignment threatened 203 trees, but it was redesigned to impact only 70, following his request. The felling was carried out by the state forest corporation and the developer paid all required compensations.

Thakur also lamented the panchayat’s earlier refusal to grant an NOC for a proposed circular road that could have enhanced connectivity for nearby villages. “The same people blocking development are now hiding behind environmental concerns,” he said.

He concluded by urging all stakeholders to set aside partisan politics and focus on the ropeway’s benefits—boosting pilgrimage tourism, generating employment, and strengthening the local economy.