Attributing the increasing devastation to climate change and rising temperaturesIn the past three years, disasters have caused damages of ₹20,000 crore to Himachal Pradesh., Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu,said
Shimla: Taking lessons from the widespread destruction caused by heavy rains and landslides in the past three years, the Himachal Pradesh government is set to extend strict building construction norms to rural areas as well.
The move, aimed at minimising the impact of climate change-induced disasters, will be taken up in the next Cabinet meeting, State Town and Country Planning and Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani said on Saturday.
Speaking to ANI in Shimla, Dharmani said the state could no longer afford to ignore construction practices in disaster-prone zones.
“The government is planning to frame building construction norms under the Town and Country Planning Department for rural areas too. It is difficult to implement the same guidelines everywhere at once, but given the climate change challenges and rising frequency of disasters in the hill state, it is essential that we bring such rules for vulnerable areas,” he said.
Highlighting examples of faulty planning, Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said constructions close to rivers and nullahs had worsened losses. “No government institution should be built within 100 metres of rivers and streams because they are changing their course. The Dharampur bus stand is a big example – built just 10–25 metres from the river – and it has suffered heavy damage again this year,” he pointed out.
Attributing the increasing devastation to climate change and rising temperatures, Sukhu said, “In the past three years, disasters have caused damages of ₹20,000 crore to Himachal Pradesh. Our effort is to rebuild the homes of families who have lost everything, and to save lives and reduce deaths. To some extent, we have been successful.”
Sukhu said the state has suffered losses worth nearly ₹20,000 crore in the last three years due to floods and rain-related disasters.
This year’s monsoon is already among the deadliest for Himachal Pradesh in recent memory, with massive loss of human lives, widespread damage to public infrastructure, and large-scale displacement of people.
Reckless development may have worsened the weather-related devastation in north India this monsoon, but the relentless downpour itself was unprecedented in recent decades. Since June 1, the region has recorded over 740mm of rainfall — the highest in 37 years and the third highest since 1950.
In an unusual pattern for north India, this monsoon brought rain almost without pause. For the first time since 1978, all four monsoon months — June to September — recorded surplus rainfall. According to IMD data since 1950, this has happened only thrice before, including in 1978.
The minister added that the Town and Country Planning Department, in coordination with the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, has already worked out draft guidelines.
“These will be presented in detail in the next Cabinet meeting. After deliberations, further suggestions will also be incorporated, and the information will be shared with the public through their representatives,” Dharmani noted.
Explaining the rationale, Dharmani stressed the need for structurally safe homes and proper site selection.
“Our houses must be structurally safe. Construction should not take place in flood-prone areas or near rivers and streams. Settlements should be avoided in zones where debris from earlier floods has accumulated. Likewise, construction should be prohibited in sliding zones. We will also try to protect existing green areas and create new ones where construction can be banned,” he said.
The minister further said the emphasis would be on regulated development to ensure both safety and planned growth. “The aim is to minimise damage from disasters, ensure the safety of lives and property, and move towards balanced and sustainable development,” he said.
Dharmani pointed out that enforcement will involve both local and specialised agencies.
“The powers of the Town and Country Planning Directorate have been delegated to local officers in certain urban and special development areas so that people do not have to run to TCP offices. Panchayati Raj institutions, special area development authorities, and representatives from urban local bodies will also be involved to ensure that development is properly regulated and people benefit,” he said.
The minister underlined that climate change is intensifying the frequency of disasters in hill states like Himachal, and only planned, regulated construction can minimise risks in the future.
Dharmani added that the aim was to minimise disaster losses while ensuring regulated and balanced development. Local officers, Panchayati Raj institutions, and special area development authorities will also be involved in enforcement.
On another policy front, Dharmani confirmed and welcomed the Education Department’s directive banning mobile phones in schools. The order, issued on September 18, prohibits both students and teachers from using mobile phones during school hours.
“This is a progressive decision. It will help ensure that students are not distracted in classrooms and teachers remain fully engaged in teaching. The focus must be on meaningful interaction between teachers and students, and a phone-free environment is necessary for that,” he said.
The minister also reacted to the Prime Minister’s recent announcement of ₹1,500 crore in disaster relief for Himachal. While expressing gratitude, he stressed the need for timely release of funds.
He said restoration of roads, power, and water supply schemes is being carried out on a war footing, though full restoration of damaged infrastructure will take considerable time.
Meanwhile,the monsoon havoc in Himachal Pradesh continues unabated, with the death toll climbing to 427 between June 20 and September 20, according to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).
Of these, 243 people have died in rain-related disasters such as landslides, flash floods, drowning and lightning, while 184 fatalities were reported in road accidents during the same period.
Public infrastructure has been badly hit. As of September 20 morning, 394 roads, including two national highways (NH-03 and NH-503A), remain blocked, the SDMA said.
Alongside, 73 distribution transformers (DTRs) are disrupted, causing power outages across several districts, while 174 water supply schemes are non-functional, severely impacting rural and urban water supply.
District-wise data shows Kullu (109 roads), Mandi (140 roads), and Kangra (38 roads) are among the worst-affected in terms of road blockages. Power disruptions are most acute in Mandi (11 DTRs), while water supply has been hit hardest in Mandi (105 schemes), Shimla (28 schemes) and Solan (10 schemes).
The SDMA further detailed the widespread damage to infrastructure and livelihoods. Over the course of the season, the state recorded 1,708 injuries, 481 animal deaths, and the destruction of 651 houses fully and 1,012 houses partially. In total, 2,287 houses, 4,908 cowsheds, 584 shops/factories, 58 labour sheds/huts, and 7,048 other small structures were damaged or destroyed.
Agriculture and horticulture losses have also been staggering, with crops worth ₹2,90,383.8 lakh and orchards worth ₹1,45,771.9 lakh reported damaged. Public property damage has been estimated at more than ₹4,75,451 lakh, affecting roads, water supply schemes, power lines, schools, health centres and other vital infrastructure.
The SDMA noted that incessant heavy rain is the primary cause behind widespread road damage, power supply disruption and breakdown of drinking water schemes.
Restoration work is ongoing, but officials admitted that in many interior areas, particularly in Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla, road clearance and repair of utilities remain a major challenge due to recurring landslides and unstable slopes.
The region saw 42.2% excess rain in June, largely due to heavy pre-monsoon showers. The surplus stood at 13.2% in July, 34.4% in August, and a staggering 62.3% so far in September (till the 19th).
Overall, 741.4mm of rain has been recorded across north India since June 1 against a normal of 563.6mm, which translates to a surplus of 31.5%. This is the highest monsoon rainfall in the region since 1988, when 813.5mm was logged.