Row erupts over washed-away forest wood in Kullu; Cong seeks probe

A political row has erupted within the Congress over the issue of a large quantity of forest wood being washed away during the June 25 flashfloods in the Sainj and Gadsa valleys of Kullu district, later accumulating in Pandoh Dam, Mandi.

Kuldeep Singh Rathore, former president of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee and current MLA from Theog, has accused the Forest Department and state government of negligence and raised concerns over the alleged illicit felling of trees in the affected region. Rathore held the government accountable, stating that the accumulation of such a large volume of wood was suspicious and warranted a high-level inquiry. “Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu must take this matter seriously and initiate an investigation to fix the responsibility of the officials concerned,” Rathore said.

In a sharp rebuttal, Kehar Singh Khachi, vice-chairman of HP State Forest Development Corporation Limited, defended the government and criticised Rathore for making “irresponsible” political statements. “Some Congress leaders issue statements from air-conditioned rooms without assessing ground realities. As a spokesperson of the Congress party, Rathore must act with responsibility,” Khachi said during a press conference in Mandi today.

Khachi clarified that the wood collected at Pandoh dam was not solid timber, but rather forest waste carried downstream due to the cloudburst in Sainj and Gadsa valleys. He stated that over 20,000 hectares of forest land was impacted in the region, resulting in natural debris being swept into the river system.

He also emphasised that preliminary reports have not found evidence of illegal logging. However, a detailed assessment is underway using drone technology to evaluate forest damage and detect any unlawful felling of trees.

Drawing parallels with a similar incident in Thunag, Mandi district, where illegal tree cutting was linked to road construction, Khachi asserted that the current situation in Kullu was being investigated thoroughly to ensure transparency and accountability.

The issue has not only raised environmental concerns but has also revealed internal discord within the ruling party.