Kisan Sabha demands urgent and independent investigation into building damage due to Bhattakufar tunnel
Residents Fear for Their Homes as Cracks Widen Above Tunnel Construction
A major farmers’ organization in Himachal Pradesh has called for an urgent and independent scientific investigation into alarming ground shifts and building damage in neighborhoods above a new highway tunnel. The Himachal Kisan Sabha points to ongoing construction work as the likely cause.
The group alleges that the sudden appearance of a large pothole and cracks spreading through buildings in Shimla are directly linked to the final phase of the Parwanoo–Shimla four-lane project, specifically the tunnelling between Bhattakufar and Chalonthi near IGMC.
“Our primary concern is the safety of thousands of families living in densely populated areas like Cemetery, Shanti Vihar, and Chamiyana, which sit directly above this tunnel,” said Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, State President of the Kisan Sabha.
The issue hit home dramatically on November 22nd when a deep cavity opened up on a road, causing a bus tire to sink and a student to fall. This incident, Dr. Tanwar says, underscores the gravity of the situation.
The worry extends beyond the roads. Cracks have now snaked across the floors of the local Cooperative Society building, the Pickup Union office, and multiple homes. Residents and the Kisan Sabha believe this damage is no coincidence, but a clear sign that underground blasting and excavation are destabilizing the ground beneath their communities.
“We need a neutral, third-party study by experts from institutes like IIT Mandi or IIT Roorkee to get a credible, scientific answer,” Dr. Tanwar insisted. “Only they can determine if the tunnelling has compromised the hill’s stability.”
The organization is demanding an immediate halt to construction until such a study is completed and its findings are made public. Dr. Tanwar warned that negligence could put entire settlements at risk and stressed that transparency is non-negotiable.
The Kisan Sabha has vowed to escalate its protests, backed by affected residents, if the government does not swiftly initiate a neutral scientific probe to address these growing fears for community safety.
