Shimla, Dec 25,
In a strong-worded letter to the Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh, Tikender Singh Panwar, former Deputy Mayor of Shimla and a noted urban planning expert, has called for immediate intervention to prevent public functions on the historic Ridge Water Tank. This comes amidst the ongoing Winter Carnival, which features a stage erected directly above the tank, raising serious safety concerns.
Panwar, who has consistently highlighted the issue over the years, reiterated the structural vulnerabilities of the Ridge Water Tank. Built over 140 years ago using lime and mortar without cement or reinforcement, the tank holds a capacity of 10 lakh gallons of water. Cracks have appeared in the structure over the decades, and it is classified as a “very high vulnerable” zone under the Hazard Vulnerability Risk Assessment (HVRA) of Shimla town.
The HVRA report has flagged potential earthquake-induced ground failure along the Ridge’s northern slopes, which have experienced subsidence since 1971. Areas like Lakkar Bazaar, Scandal Point, and Longwood are designated as “sinking zones,” underscoring the critical need for caution.
In the letter, Panwar highlighted that repeated warnings, including orders from the Himachal Pradesh High Court and a 2007 government notification, explicitly prohibit activities that could increase the tank’s vulnerability. Yet, public functions, heavy vehicle movement, and commercial activities continue unabated.
 Noteworthy that beginning this month Panwar had even filed an FIR against different officials of Shimla district administration and the State government for use of heavy machinery by people raising temporary structures on The Ridge Shimla having a water tank supplying drinking wate
Further in the latter Panwar added that the Deputy Commissioner of Shimla had sought a structural certificate from the Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited (SJPNL) for the Winter Carnival stage, but no such certificate was issued, leaving the event devoid of legal or structural safety assurances.
Panwar also criticized State institutions for their disregard for disaster risk reduction norms. “What is the point of conducting mock disaster drills when the same institutions violate basic disaster mitigation principles?” he questioned.
In his letter, Panwar urged the Chief Secretary to enforce a complete moratorium on activities at the Ridge in compliance with the High Court orders, the 2007 notification, and existing laws such as the Heritage Act, Valley View Act, and Street Vendors Act. He warned of legal action, including filing contempt petitions, if such violations persist.
” Of late, The Ridge has become a spectacle of optics for everyone, right from the government, political parties, religious and social organisations, almost everyone wants to exhibit on The Ridge, without realizing the risks involved in such functions,” stated Panwar in the letter.
Therefore as a solution, the former deputy Mayor called for the immediate relocation of the Winter Carnival stage to areas outside the “yellow-marked” vulnerable zone of the Ridge. “The Ridge is not just a heritage site but a lifeline for Shimla. Its safety should not be compromised for the sake of optics,” Panwar emphasized.
With the Winter Carnival underway, all eyes are now on the State government and Municipal Corporation Shimla to address these pressing concerns and safeguard Shimla’s iconic Ridge.
