Timber of discontent: Nurpur plant lies idle, locals decry govt apathy

Once hailed as a model Assembly constituency in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, Nurpur is now witnessing a sharp development decline, triggering growing discontent among residents. The root of the frustration lies in stalled infrastructure projects—most notably a timber treatment plant inaugurated in October 2022 under the previous BJP-led government.

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The plant, established under the HIMKASHAT sale division of the state forest department, aimed to boost employment through timber treatment and cottage-based industries. It was inaugurated by then Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania, who also served as the local MLA. The facility was expected to support local carpenters and artisans, generating both employment and self-employment opportunities. However, nearly three years later, the project remains non-functional, its machinery idle and its promise unfulfilled.

Locals allege that the Congress-led government under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has sidelined the constituency’s interests, particularly after BJP candidate Ranbir Singh Nikka secured a decisive win in the last Assembly elections, defeating his Congress rival by over 18,000 votes. Residents accuse the government of adopting a “step-motherly” attitude towards the constituency, and many express frustration over MLA Nikka’s failure to publicly raise the issue or push for project revival.

Investigations by The Tribune confirm that the project had received formal approval during a 2021 Board of Directors (BoD) meeting of the Himachal Pradesh State Forest Corporation (HPSFC). It included plans for a large-capacity timber treatment chamber, with space to process up to two cubic meters in one cycle—one of the largest of its kind in the state. Additionally, the plant was to house a saw mill, a wooden furniture manufacturing unit, and a retail timber depot, enabling locals to purchase timber directly without auction procedures.

The shelving of the project, residents say, has not only caused financial losses to the state exchequer but also denied vital livelihood opportunities to hundreds of skilled and semi-skilled workers in the region.

Former minister Rakesh Pathania slammed the current government, accusing it of lacking both vision and commitment. “The closure of a project duly approved by the HPSFC BoD and inaugurated under the previous regime is a clear example of this government’s indifferent approach towards development,” he stated.

With the project’s fate uncertain and unemployment rising in the area, the discontent in Nurpur is growing louder—echoing through its silent, unused timber chambers.