Disaster-affected residents across Himachal detail delays, exclusion at public hearing in Mandi

By A Representative 

More than 70 disaster-affected residents from Mandi, Kangra, Kullu, Kinnaur, Lahaul and nearby regions presented their grievances before a seven-member civil society panel at a day-long People’s Public Hearing at Saksharta Bhavan, Mandi. The event, part of a two-day programme involving multiple grassroots organisations, provided a platform for affected communities to outline continuing gaps in relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Participants described extensive losses—damaged houses, destroyed farmland, disrupted livelihoods and unsafe living conditions—while noting that state responses remain slow and inconsistent. Many said they had received initial relief payments of ₹1.30 lakh, but assessments for further compensation under the Special Relief Package (SRP) were still pending, uneven or unclear.

A lack of transparency in survey procedures was one of the most common complaints. Residents from Siraj said names were added or removed from official lists without explanation. Some families who lost homes reported being denied rental relief unless they shifted to government camps, despite having arranged temporary accommodation elsewhere.

Speakers also questioned criteria used to determine SRP eligibility. Families with ancestral homes in distant villages, as well as nuclear families recently separated from joint households, said they were excluded from compensation even after losing the houses they currently occupied. Single women reported being disproportionately affected by these rules.

Residents from Malana recounted the impact of the Malana Dam breach, saying several families—including those who lost homes and belongings—have yet to receive any relief. Landlessness and the lack of relocation options emerged as a major concern across testimonies. Speakers from Jogindernagar, Siraj, Lahaul and other regions said they were barred from rebuilding on unsafe land but offered no alternatives, especially where clearance from the Forest Department was required.

Several speakers linked recent disasters to ecological stress from road construction, tree felling, unregulated muck dumping and dam development. Many referred to the destruction in Mandi town earlier this year, arguing that blocked drains and road-widening had worsened the damage.

Concerns were also raised about disruptions to education. Independent journalist and advocate Rajneesh Sharma said secondary school students in several villages must walk long distances on unsafe terrain, while some primary school buildings remain non-functional months after the monsoon. He criticised political interference in reconstruction work and called for transparency and accountability in disaster-related spending.

Climate-related changes were highlighted by residents from Lahaul, who pointed to repeated flash floods in smaller streams and linked them to glacial retreat and shifting weather patterns. Speakers from Kullu cautioned against unregulated tourism and cited past community mobilisations against environmentally risky projects.

The Divisional Magistrate of Mandi, who attended the opening session, acknowledged the urgency of addressing landlessness and said the issue was being discussed with the central government. He also assured that concerns regarding SRP implementation would be reviewed.

Panel members Guman Singh, Vimla Vishwapremi, Jaya Lal Negi, Dipender Manta, Nirmal Chandel, Chandrakanta and Manshi Asher will prepare a report with recommendations for submission to the state government.

The hearing was organised by more than a dozen civil society groups, including Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan, Land Acquisition Affected Forum, Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, Himalok Jagriti Manch, Himachal Gyan-Vigyan Samiti, Himdhara Environment Collective, Jibhi Valley Tourism Development Association, Loktantra, Democratic Nation-Building Campaign, Mandi Literacy Committee, People for Himalaya Campaign, Mountain Women’s Rights Forum, People’s Campaign for Socio-Economic Equality, Save Lahaul-Spiti and the Tower Line Affected Forum. The organisations will meet on 16 November to plan further advocacy efforts.