Shimla, June 28
Tikender Singh Panwar, former Deputy Mayor of Shimla and member of the Kerala Urban Commission, has issued a warning about the state’s vulnerability to impending monsoon disasters. As the rains commence, reports of blocked roads and landslides have already surfaced, prompting Panwar to highlight the critical lessons from the devastating monsoon of 2023.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to Prabodh Saxena, Chief secretary of Himachal Pradesh, Panwar emphasized that the state’s disaster management report from 2023 meticulously details the human-induced exacerbation of natural disasters and underscores the urgent need for proactive measures.
Drawing attention to two critical violations, Panwar urges immediate action to prevent further tragedies. The first being the Summerhill Shiv Baouri Construction. This issue was also highlighted by HimachalScape recently.
Also read: Controversial temple construction next to Shiv Baouri disaster site draws criticism
In this the former Dy Mayor highlights the tragic incident on August 14, 2023, where 21 people lost their lives due to a landslide in the Summerhill Shiv Baouri area. Despite this, a new three-storey structure is being constructed on the same site, defying objections from municipal authorities. Panwar insists on halting this construction to avoid repeating past mistakes. He also accuses the authorities and the builders of blatant disregard for human life, warning that another disaster is inevitable if this project is not halted immediately.
The second one being the IGMC gorge muck dumping site. He points out the irresponsible dumping of debris in the IGMC gorge by Shimla’s municipal authorities. This gorge was flooded in 2023, blocking access to the IGMC hospital and endangering the nearby ‘sarai’ run by the Rotary Club for cancer patients. Panwar labels this as a clear case of gross negligence by those meant to uphold safety standards, predicting a catastrophic outcome if the dumping persists.
As a member of the Kerala Urban Commission, tasked with drafting a future-proof urban policy for Kerala, Panwar emphasizes the need for a “climate-resilient” and “risk-informed” development model. He underscores the importance of learning from the past to prevent future disasters, especially in the most vulnerable regions like Himachal Pradesh.
He emphasizes the need for a zero-tolerance policy against violations, whether by individuals or state institutions. Panwar’s tone in the letter is unmistakably urgent, painting a grim picture of the consequences of inaction as the monsoon season advances urging Saxena to revisit the 2023 disaster management report and enforce its recommendations without delay.
“The time for complacency is over,” Panwar writes. “We must act now to protect lives and properties from preventable disasters. The people of Himachal Pradesh deserve better than to live in constant fear of the next avoidable tragedy.”
He stresses the need for a robust and efficient system to prevent violations by individuals, state institutions, or parastatals, ensuring the safety and well-being of the state’s residents during the monsoon season.
Noteworthy that Panwar’s letter is a stark warning and a call to action, urging CS to revisit the 2023 disaster management report and enforce its recommendations without delay. Moreover here it is pertinent to mention that on Thursday night the capital city received the first showers of Monsoon, which was recorded 84 mm rain in around 12 hours.
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