Shimla, Nov 5,
As Himachal Pradesh continues to grapple with recurring monsoon disasters, a new collaborative initiative has been launched to test nature-based solutions (NbS) in the flood-prone town of Dharampur, Mandi district. The effort aims to demonstrate how bio-engineering, community-based planning, and early warning systems can together build long-term resilience against flash floods and landslides.
The pilot project, supported by multiple national and international partners, seeks to protect key public infrastructure such as the inter-state bus terminal and the power sub-station, both of which were severely affected during this year’s floods. The initiative will employ bio-engineering techniques—including vegetative barriers and slope stabilization—to mitigate erosion and water flow impact, while sensor-based warning systems will alert local communities in advance of potential hazards.
The announcement was made during an inception workshop held in Shimla on November 3, 2025, attended by representatives from Dharampur, local governance bodies, technical experts, and community organizations.
Officials said the pilot is designed to blend traditional ecological knowledge with modern scientific methods, creating a replicable model that can be scaled across the Hindu Kush Himalayan region.
Experts at the workshop emphasized that bio-engineering not only strengthens natural defenses but also reduces dependence on expensive concrete infrastructure, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative.
For local residents, the project offers renewed hope. The 2023 and 2024 monsoon floods had devastated parts of Dharampur, inundating homes, roads, and public facilities. With rainfall patterns growing increasingly erratic, communities across Himachal are seeking climate-resilient solutions rooted in ecosystem restoration and preventive action.
According to technical partners, the Dharampur pilot will now move into the implementation phase, integrating on-ground interventions with data-driven early warning systems to safeguard lives, livelihoods, and critical public assets.
This pioneering initiative marks an important shift in Himachal Pradesh’s disaster risk management—from reactive recovery to proactive resilience-building through nature-based innovation.
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