CITU and Himachal Kisan Sabha Rise Against Exploitation: Demand Justice for Lost Homes, Jobs, and Environment

Shimla Echoes with Anger as Locals Protest Highway Companies’ Destruction

The quiet hills of Himachal Pradesh are ringing with cries for justice as affected villagers, farmers, and laborers stage a powerful protest outside the Shimla Deputy Commissioner’s office. Their demands? Accountability from the companies building national highways—Gawar, Bharat, and Singla—whose reckless construction has left a trail of broken homes, lost livelihoods, and environmental ruin.

A Crisis Ignored: Collapsing Houses, Broken Promises

For months, families in Shimla and Mandi’s Dharmpur have watched helplessly as unscientific road construction destabilized their homes. In one shocking incident, an under-construction bridge collapsed, while a nearby school teeters on the edge of disaster. One house has already been completely destroyed, and at least eight others are at risk.

“They blast mountains without care, dump debris wherever they please, and leave us to suffer,” says Ranjan Verma, a resident whose home now has deep cracks. “When we ask for help, they send goons to silence us.”

Workers Treated “Like Animals”

The exploitation doesn’t end there. Hundreds of migrant and local laborers working on these projects face horrific conditions:

• 12-hour shifts but paid only for 8 hours
• No EPF, ESI, or leave benefits
• Delayed wages for months
• Crammed into tiny rooms “like goats”
• Fed rotten food in company mess halls

“If we complain, they bring in bouncers from Haryana to beat us,” shares Sushil Kumar, a worker. Despite multiple police complaints, no action has been taken.

Environmental Havoc: Dust, Debris, and Dead Crops

Farmers report that illegal mining and unchecked dumping have turned fertile land barren. Dust from construction has ruined vegetables and crops, while landslides triggered by unscientific blasting threaten entire villages.

“Our children are falling sick from the dust, our fields yield nothing—what future do we have?” asks Radheshyam, a farmer.

Government Silence Raises Suspicions

Protesters accuse the Himachal government, NHAI, and district administration of turning a blind eye. “There’s a clear nexus—politicians, contractors, and officials are all profiting while we suffer,” alleges Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, President of Himachal Kisan Sabha.

What Do They Want?

The protesters’ demands include:
✔ ₹5 crore compensation for each destroyed home
✔ 80% jobs for locals in highway projects
✔ Immediate halt to illegal mining/dumping
✔ Legal action against companies and corrupt officials
✔ Strict enforcement of labor laws

Next Steps: A Statewide Movement

The fight is far from over:

• July 7: Mass rally at Kalibari Hall, Shimla
• July 9: Inclusion in nationwide strike
• July 15 onwards: Escalated protests

“We won’t stop until justice is served,” declares Sanjay Chauhan of the Joint Kisan Morcha.

As the sun sets over Shimla, the resolve of these villagers burns brighter than ever. Their message to the powers that be: “Enough is enough.”