Shimla, July 20,
A high-level panel, constituted by the Himachal Pradesh Government in 2020 to address compensation disputes and property damage caused by four-lane highway projects, has largely failed to protect the interests of affected people, even after five years of its existence. The recent monsoon rains, which caused widespread damage to houses and farmland along the highway construction sites, have once again exposed the inefficiency of this committee.
The notification issued in June 2020 had empowered Deputy Commissioners to chair district-level committees with officials from NHAI, construction companies, and the Public Works Department (PWD). However, in Shimla, during the tenure of then DC Anupam Kashyap, only a few meetings were held, and now the responsibility of the panel has been delegated to the Additional District Magistrate (Protocol), diluting the authority of the committee.
Despite the panel’s mandate to assess damages beyond the Right of Way (RoW) and provide compensation, local people in districts like Shimla, Mandi, Kullu, Kinnaur, and Kangra continue to face huge losses. Houses have either collapsed or suffered structural damage due to steep hillside cutting and uncontrolled muck dumping, but compensation remains elusive. Farmers and landowners argue that while the RoW is legally defined, the hilly terrain ensures that properties outside this boundary are equally impacted by blasting and excavation activities. Yet, NHAI does not acknowledge claims for damages outside the RoW, leaving many families without relief.
PK Sharma, a local activist, stated, “Due to the failure of this panel to consider grievances effectively, affected people have no proper access to justice or compensation. The meetings, if held, remain superficial without addressing core issues.â€
Himachal Pradesh Kisan Sabha president Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar echoed similar concerns, saying, “Despite having such a panel, it has not served its purpose. Farmers and local residents are the worst sufferers as their land and homes are damaged, but their voices remain unheard.â€
The recent heavy rains have worsened the condition of those living near under-construction four-lane stretches, where dumping of debris in non-designated areas has blocked natural drainage, triggering landslides and flooding. Activists allege that the panel exists only on paper and has failed to act as a platform for grievance redressal.
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