Dumping wreaks havoc in Himachal: Farmers cry for justice, Kisan Sabha threatens statewide stir

The picturesque villages of the Mashobra region in Himachal Pradesh, located just a few kilometers from the state secretariat, are facing an environmental and humanitarian crisis. Despite being under the very nose of top government offices and regulatory authorities, illegal dumping by a corporate construction giant has caused widespread damage to farmlands and ecosystems across nine Panchayats — Kethli Ghat, Kot, Shoghi, Anandpur, Pujarli, Mehli, Malyana, Chamiyana, and Dhali.

The issue stems from a ₹1850 crore highway project (16.5 km) awarded by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to M/S SP Singla Construction & Co. While construction is moving at full throttle, locals allege that the company is recklessly dumping debris on private agricultural lands, pastures, forests, and even water sources — instead of using designated dumping sites.

Local farmers, many of whom are marginal, Dalit, women, or widowed landholders, say they have been left to suffer silently. Their lands — critical for livelihood and sustenance — are being permanently destroyed by corporate activities that face little to no oversight.

“What’s most painful,” says Himachal Kisan Sabha State President Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, “is the hypocrisy. When poor farmers demand rightful land under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) or Forest Conservation Act (FCA), they are accused of threatening the environment. But when big corporations ruin acres of land, rivers, and forests, the government remains a mute spectator.”

The destruction caused by similar unchecked dumping during the 2023 monsoons was devastating, leading to loss of life, property, and fertile land. Yet, regulatory bodies like the Pollution Control Board (PCB), the Forest Department, and Jal Shakti remain sluggish in their response even today.

In a recent move, the Himachal Kisan Sabha submitted a memorandum to both the PCB and the Forest Department, urging immediate and punitive action against the responsible company. Following this, on April 19, the PCB visited affected villages like Pujarli and Mehli and assured locals of strict steps against the violators.

But the Kisan Sabha isn’t waiting in hope alone. It has issued a stern warning: If no concrete action is visible soon, a mass agitation will be launched across all block, tehsil, and district headquarters on April 28, 2025, targeting both the government and the regulatory bodies for their failure to act.

“We’re not against development,” said Veena Mehta, Vice President of the Pujarli Unit of the Kisan Sabha. “But it cannot come at the cost of our land, lives, and livelihood.”

As pressure mounts, all eyes are now on the government — will it protect the interests of its citizens or continue turning a blind eye to corporate impunity?