Not only has the government failed to do a cost-benefit analysis of building the Pancheshwar Dam or assess its environmental impact, it has also fallen short of addressing the growing concerns of locals. Exactly a year ago, our prime minister, in his campaign speech just before the Uttarakhand state elections, declared from the podium in Pithoragarh town that […]
A report by Manshi Asher and Sumit Mahar Last month, on October 14th, around noon, there was a massive fish kill in the Sirsa River at Sitalpur, in Baddi, Solan district. Locals of the area who witnessed the event sent in these photographs and video of hundreds of dying rohu. Photo and Video Credit: Pawan Bhardwaj, Baddi […]
As the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Environment for River Valley Projects discussed the matter of world’s second highest dam, today, a small group of peaceful protestors stood outside to voice their dissent. “We are here to ask how the committee will take a decision in 45 minutes about a project on which 40000 crores […]
Himachal Pradesh a mountain state in Indian Himalaya, covering an area of over fifty five thousand square kilometres, has 5 major river basins Satluj, Ravi, Beas, Chenab and Yamuna. Yamuna crosses only the south-eastern border of the state, and but its tributaries originating in Himachal include Giri and Tons which form a part of the […]
With tourism to Parvati Valley on the rise, local communities struggle to cope with the pressures of the new consumerist society. The village square is bustling with activity. Women are seated along the stone wall boundary of the exquisitely wood carved temple. In the centre is a huddle of local men, and emerging from it is a golden […]
The migration of poor, homeless people in distress from faraway rural areas to upcoming urban and sub-urban hubs is not a new phenomenon. The demolition of the Charan Khad settlement in Dharamshala on 16 and 17 June 2016, is a classic story of slum demolition and the ongoing struggle of displaced people. Dharamshala is one […]
To address historical injustice faced by the forest-dependent communities in India, UPA government had passed the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of) Forest Rights Act in 2006. But the Congress, at least in Himachal, has failed to make use of this legislation to provide relief to tribal population. In fact, Himachal is […]
The residents of Gunehar village in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district are attempting to use the Forest Rights Act to challenge the state Forest Department’s decision to hand over two hectares of local forest land to the Wildlife Department to construct an office complex. At the end of December, the Gunehar panchayat filed a complaint with […]
The members of the Himachal Van Adhikar Manch, a state level forum of social organisations advocating for implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006 met in Shimla today to discuss the issues of landholders with forest land occupations facing the threat of eviction in the state. Members of the manch plan to meet the High […]
Press note 3rd January: Forest Rights Committees lead the way on FRA claim filing process in Himachal even as government unresponsive 4 Forest Rights Committees (FRCs) of Gram Panchayat Kandral in Baijnath submitted their Individual and community claims under Forest Rights Act 2006 (FRA) to the SDM today. The FRCs carried out a rigorous verification […]