Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that with increasing climate vulnerability in Himalayan states, incidents of cloudbursts are likely to rise in hill states such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the North-Eastern states.
The CM was speaking at the release of the book ‘City Limits – The Crisis of Urbanisation’, edited by former Deputy Mayor of Municipal Corporation Shimla Tikender Panwar, in Shimla on Tuesday.
“During a meeting with the Union Home Minister, I mentioned that cloudburst incidents will not remain limited to Himachal Pradesh in the future. Such incidents are likely to increase in Uttarakhand and the North-Eastern states as well,” Sukhu said.
He reiterated that the state government was committed to taking Himachal Pradesh forward on the path of development while safeguarding the state’s natural environment, culture and social balance.
Emphasising sustainable development, Sukhu said Himachal Pradesh had faced two major natural disasters in the last three years, causing extensive damage across the state. “Cloudburst incidents are now being scientifically studied as such events are no longer confined to higher reaches but are also occurring in lower areas,” he said, citing incidents in parts of the Seraj Assembly constituency as evidence of the trend.
The CM said nature had blessed Himachal with clean air and water, and preserving these resources was the collective responsibility of every citizen. “Shimla, being the capital and largest city of the state, has witnessed rapid transformation over the years. I have seen Shimla changing since my childhood. Areas that once had forests are now covered with buildings, leading to concretisation,” he remarked.
Sukhu said the state government was constructing an underground duct system in Shimla at a cost of Rs 145 crore to remove overhead wiring and improve the city’s aesthetics. He added that a modern complex was being developed at the present Sabzi Mandi area with an investment of Rs 600 crore, while an Rs 800 crore water supply scheme was being implemented to ensure 24-hour water availability in Shimla.
He also said new townships such as Him-Chandigarh, Him-Panchkula and an Aero City in Kangra were being planned as part of decongestion efforts. Infrastructure related to tourism was also being strengthened, he added.
Former Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan expressed concern over traffic congestion in Shimla, saying the problem was not caused only by outside vehicles but also by those owned by locals.
“Restrictions should not be imposed only on tourists. Locals must also act responsibly as many are purchasing multiple vehicles despite having no parking facilities,” he said.
Mayor of Municipal Corporation Shimla Surinder Chauhan, Principal Media Advisor to the Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan and former Deputy Mayor Tikender Panwar were also present on the occasion.
