Rs 2,000-crore Beas embankment project in limbo as Central Government yet to approve DPR
Conceived a decade ago to protect people and their properties from recurring flash floods
The Central Government is yet to approve an ambitious project conceived a decade ago to embank the Beas from Palchan near Manali to Aut, putting the lives of thousands of people living along riverbanks at risk of recurring floods and heavy losses during the monsoon every year. The work on this ambitious river embankment and protection project estimated to cost around Rs 2,000 crore is yet to start as the Central Government has not approved its detailed project report (DPR).
Every year, the swollen Beas wreaks havoc in Kullu and parts of Mandi district, washing away land, houses, shops, bridges and critical infrastructure. Despite repeated assurances, the embankment work has remained only on paper. The state government had forwarded the project proposal to the Central Government but approval is still awaited.
The region has long witnessed and withstood devastation due to flashfloods. Massive floods in 1995 and 1998 had caused widespread destruction in Kullu district. In 2003, the Beas had again overflowed, causing losses to the tune of several crores of rupees. In 2023, several stretches of the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway were severely damaged due to flash floods, many bridges, homes and commercial establishments were swept away.
In 2025, flash floods had damaged the National Highway-3, three bridges and large tracts of private land between Manali, Kullu and Aut, bringing normal life to a standstill.
Residents are aghast how long they will continue to rebuild their lives after every monsoon. Thousands of families living along riverbanks continue to face uncertainty, displacement and financial distress due to the absence of permanent flood-control measures.
Interestingly, Himachal Pradesh at present has four BJP MPs in the Lok Sabha and three in the Rajya Sabha, besides a Union Minister. However, despite this strong political presence, the Beas embankment project has not been approved. The Congress alleges the lack of seriousness on the part of the BJP towards safeguarding the hill state from climate-induced disasters. The public discourse increasingly reflects disappointment and people reminding politicians of the promises made during elections but later forgotten.
Local residents Man Singh, Devi Singh, Amar Singh, Deen Nath, Surender Kumar, Sanjay Sharma and Mohar Singh say that the embankment project is not merely an infrastructure proposal but a lifeline for thousands of people. They add that the project will significantly reduce flood damage and allow people living along the Beas to lead a fear-free life.
With extreme weather events intensifying due to climate change, experts warn that delaying such crucial projects can result in even greater human and economic losses in the future. The people of Kullu and Mandi now look towards the Central Government for decisive action, hoping that the decade-long wait for the Beas embankment project will finally come to an end.
