Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], September 16 : Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Tuesday chaired the first meeting of the Special Task Force Committee constituted to resolve priority issues concerning infrastructure projects of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in the state.
The meeting covered a wide range of agenda items crucial to the timely completion of ongoing and upcoming national highway projects. These included land acquisition, tree felling, and forest clearances, as well as environmental concerns such as the dredging of the Beas River, the shifting of utilities, and the identification of dumping sites.
According to a statement issued, Singh said, "Infrastructure development, particularly road connectivity, plays a crucial role in the growth of tourism, trade, and the economy of Himachal Pradesh. I have directed all departments to work in close coordination with NHAI and MoRTH to expeditiously resolve pending issues so that projects of national importance are completed in a time-bound manner."
The minister also appreciated the efforts of NHAI and MoRTH in carrying out construction and restoration work on national highways that were badly damaged during the current monsoon season.
"The State Government will extend full support to ensure the timely execution of these projects. I have also directed NHAI and MoRTH officers to take necessary measures to address the genuine grievances of the local people," Singh said.
The meeting was attended by R.D. Nazeem, Additional Chief Secretary (Transport, Industries, and Public Works), Rakhil Kahlon, Secretary (JSV), the Engineer-in-Chief HPPWD, Chief Engineer (NH), A.K. Kushwaha, Regional Officer MoRTH, Col. Ajay Bargoti, Regional Officer NHAI, and other senior officers.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh has suffered a heavy human and infrastructure loss this monsoon season with 417 deaths reported so far, including 236 in rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods and drowning, and 181 in road accidents, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said on Tuesday.
Since June 20, when the monsoon arrived in the hill state, disasters triggered by torrential rains have also left 477 people injured and 45 missing. The calamity has further led to the death of over 2,407 animals and nearly 27,000 poultry birds, according to the cumulative report compiled by the SDMA.
The disaster authority stated that the state has recorded 1,668 houses fully damaged, 29,362 partially damaged, and 584 shops/factories destroyed. More than 2,000 cowsheds and labour huts have also collapsed, rendering hundreds of families homeless.
On the infrastructure front, Himachal Pradesh has suffered losses worth over Rs 4,58,000 lakh (Rs 4,582 crore). The Public Works Department (PWD) alone accounted for over Rs 2,80,000 lakh in losses, followed by the Jal Shakti Vibhag (Rs 1,40,531 lakh) and the power sector (Rs 13,946 lakh). Damage has also been reported to schools, health facilities, fisheries, and rural development works.
Among districts, Mandi has recorded the highest toll with 66 deaths, followed by Kangra (57), Chamba (50), Shimla (47), Kullu (44) and Una (27). While landslides claimed 52 lives, flash floods led to 11 deaths, cloudbursts to 17, and drowning incidents to 40, besides other causes like electrocution and snake bites.