For disaster victims, the Himachal CM requests that the Center waive the Land and Forest Act.

Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, urged the Union government on Saturday to ease the Forest Conservation Act, 1980’s provisions so that forest land could be used for rehabilitation and to give at least one bigha of land to families whose homes and farmlands have been destroyed by the ongoing monsoon disaster.

“In Himachal, 68% of land falls under forests, and the Forest Conservation Act applies there. The state government cannot use even one inch of that land for rehabilitation or to provide to the needy. I appeal to the Centre to relax this law so that land can be made available to disaster-hit families,” Sukhu told reporters.

The chief minister said that the state government has already announced a special package for Mandi district, the worst-affected by floods and landslides. “Certainly, the maximum benefit will go to the Seraj assembly constituency, which has suffered the most damage. Even if a relative donates land to a family, the state government will pay the registration fee. Many affected families do not want to return to the damaged areas, and for their resettlement, we need the Union government’s support,” he said.

Recalling that the assembly had passed a resolution in 2023 asking the Center for ₹10,000 crore in special disaster help, Sukhu claimed that the BJP had not backed the action at the time. “Now, a BJP delegation has met central leaders for relief. That is welcome. We too are waiting for a special package release soon,” he said, adding he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah, who had also sent a scientific team to study the recurring pattern of disasters.

Sukhu said that officials had misled the governor about the dispute over the ads for vice-chancellor positions at the agricultural university in Palampur and Dr. YS Parmar Horticulture University in Nauni, Solan district.

“Whatever has been done is with cabinet approval and state legislation. I will meet the governor to resolve the issue. I respect the governor and have always worked in line with his advice,” he said, but added that “constitutional powers rest with the state legislature, and those directives must be respected”.

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, while refraining from commenting on the high court stay on the V-C appointment matter, defended his stand. “For the universities, whatever I did was in their interest. The court has stayed it, and I respect that. Whatever has to be done, I will do. I will leave it to the people of Himachal to decide why such steps were taken with Nauni and Palampur universities,” he said.

Shukla also recalled his recent visit to a disaster-hit region, praising the resilience of local residents. “I appreciate the courage of Himachal residents. I was afraid on that road, but they were driving fearlessly. When I went to distribute relief material, I saw respect in their hearts for one another. That is a big thing about Himachal, something rare in other places,” he added.

Mukesh Agnihotri, the deputy chief minister, emphasized the extent of the state’s monsoon losses over the previous two years. “For the last two years, Himachal has faced heavy damage. Last year, losses exceeded ₹10,000 crore, yet we did not get adequate help from the Centre. This year again, huge losses have been incurred, especially in the Jal Shakti department, where many water schemes have been washed away,” he said.

Agnihotri said the government has revised the relief package announced after last year’s disaster. “Earlier we had given ₹7 lakh for fully damaged houses. Now we have increased support, including compensation for animals lost and land damaged. We have authorised deputy commissioners to notify new areas as disaster-affected so they can also be covered under relief,” he said.

On the delayed unveiling of the statue of former CM Virbhadra Singh at the Ridge Maidan in Shimla, Agnihotri clarified that it was postponed due to adverse weather. “Virbhadra Singh ji was a towering leader who ruled the hearts of people for 50 years. Just as Dr YS Parmar created Himachal, Virbhadra Singh shaped modern Himachal. His statue will be dedicated to the public as soon as the weather improves, with participation of our central leadership,” he said.