Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced on Friday that the state government will develop disaster-resilient infrastructure at an estimated cost of Rs 3,500 crore to bolster the state's ability to withstand natural disasters and minimize future losses.
CM's Address at Workshop
Presiding over the valedictory session of the high-level workshop on “Towards Resilient Infrastructure Planning in the Western Himalayas” at Dr Manmohan Singh Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) in Shimla, Sukhu highlighted that Himachal Pradesh, being a mountainous state with difficult geographical conditions, is becoming increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters.
Sukhu asserted that the rise in cloudburst incidents in the state is linked to climatic changes and enhanced evaporation from reservoirs created by large dams. “While Himachal Pradesh is currently facing this challenge, other states are also likely to experience similar impacts in the coming years. Addressing such challenges will require bold policy decisions and necessary changes in development practices to mitigate losses,” he said.
Recalling the 2023 Disaster
Recalling the devastating disaster of 2023, the Chief Minister said nearly 75,000 tourists were stranded across the state, but the administration ensured the safe evacuation of all and restored essential services on a war footing. “Standing firmly with the affected families, the state government introduced historic changes in the relief policy by increasing compensation for fully damaged houses from Rs 1.30 lakh to Rs 8 lakh,” he added.
Reports and Portals Launched
During the event, Sukhu released a report titled “Towards Resilient Himachal Pradesh: Lessons and Recommendations from the 2023 and 2025 Hydro-Meteorological Disasters.” He also launched the Himachal Social Impact Assessment Management System (SIAU Portal), stating that the portal would strengthen data-driven decision-making, improve inter-departmental coordination, and enhance administrative efficiency in the state.
Expert Recommendations
The vice-chairman of the State Disaster Management Authority, Deepak Rathore, stressed the need to move beyond conventional development models by integrating disaster resilience into infrastructure planning and strengthening early warning systems. Former NITI Aayog Member Dr VK Saraswat called for a multi-dimensional policy approach involving all stakeholders, stating that disaster resilience cannot be achieved by any single department or institution alone.
