SHIMLA, 09.09.25-Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday conducted an aerial survey of disaster-affected areas in Himachal Pradesh to assess the situation caused by heavy rains and flash floods during the current monsoon and later chaired a review meeting at Kangra airport.

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu welcomed the Prime Minister and honoured him on the occasion. He briefed the Prime Minister on the unprecedented losses caused by torrential rains during this year’s monsoon. He informed that while the State Government was extending all possible help to the affected families with its limited resources, urgent additional support from the Union Government was required.

Sh. Sukhu requested relaxation under the Forest Conservation Act to allow the resettlement of displaced families on forest land, as 68 percent of land in Himachal Pradesh was forest land. He also sought a special relief package from the Central Government, emphasizing that the State’s resources alone were insufficient to cope with the scale of destruction suffered due to heavy rains. Additionally, he urged the Centre to permit an extra two percent borrowing limit so that more effective relief could be extended to disaster-hit families.

Highlighting inadequate support for damaged government projects, the Chief Minister pressed for a revision of existing norms, pointing out that restoring damaged projects often costs more than setting-up new ones. He said “So far we are receiving too low and too late.” He also drew attention to the fact that hydropower projects in the State often remain shut for months after floods, yet such losses were not recognized under the present framework. He appealed to the Centre to reconsider this approach in view of Himachal’s unique challenges due to its geographic terrains.

The Chief Minister further sought Central assistance for state development projects, reiterating Himachal’s demand for free royalty from hydropower generation and the transfer of CPSU-owned power projects to the State after 40 years. He also sought Centre’s support for expansion of Kangra airport, construction of all-weather tunnels under NHAI projects, and development of alternative mountain routes to ensure connectivity during adverse weather. The Bhubu Jot tunnel project, which would benefit travelers to Kullu-Manali, was also strongly raised before the Prime Minister.

Sh. Sukhu expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for personally reviewing the disaster-affected areas and giving his valuable time.

The meeting was attended by Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar, Ayush Minister Yadvinder Goma, Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur, MPs Dr. Rajeev Bhardwaj and Kangana Ranaut, Deputy Chief Whip Kewal Singh Pathania, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Additional Chief Secretary K.K. Pant and Secretary to Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar, among others.