Makes Nitin Gadkari-headed NHAI, state govt party in case
Munish Sood
MANDI:
The controversy over alleged unscientific construction practices on the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway-003 in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district has now reached the Himachal Pradesh High Court, with social worker Anupama Singh, who is a resident of Devdhar, taking the lead by filing a civil writ petition against the Union of India, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and other authorities.
Filed under Article 226 of the Constitution through advocate Ajay Kumar Sharma, the petition raises serious environmental and safety concerns regarding reckless hill cutting, unregulated muck dumping and diversion of natural water channels along the Hamirpur-Mandi section between Talyar and Lagdhar. The plea states that such unscientific methods have triggered landslides, damaged farmland, homes and cow sheds, and disrupted the ecological balance of the area.
The petition names as respondents the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), which is headed by Nitin Gadkari, NHAI Project Director (Mandi), State of Himachal Pradesh, Regional Officer (MoRTH), Shimla; Deputy Commissioner, Mandi, and construction firms M/s Gawar Construction Ltd and M/s Surya Construction Company. The petitioners have urged the court to ensure that the four-lane construction is executed in a scientifically sound and legally compliant manner, prioritizing environmental sustainability and public safety.
Congress MLA Chander Shekhar was on hunger strike
Last month, Dharampur Congress MLA Chander Shekhar sat on a hunger strike in Mandi, protesting against the same issue and demanding accountability from the construction companies. Despite his firm stance, the fast ended without tangible results. It was finally called off after Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri visited him personally and requested that he end his strike.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders dismissed Chander Shekhar’s move as a “political drama” intended to attract attention rather than bring solutions, saying it failed to achieve any on-ground impact.
Now, a prestige battle in Mandi
The entire four-lane project has now become a prestige issue among Mandi’s political figures. Leaders from both the ruling and opposition camps, including Anil Sharma and Rajesh Kapoor, continue to meet senior officials and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari over the matter. But behind the scenes, a fierce credit game is underway, as each faction seeks political mileage from what has become one of the most talked-about development controversies in the district.
For residents, however, the fight is about survival and safety. Villagers from Devdhar and nearby areas allege that reckless muck dumping and blocked water channels have led to soil erosion, cracked homes and flooded fields. “Our land is sliding every day. We want the work to continue, but in a scientific and safe way,” said a local resident.
Filed on October 7, 2025, the petition is now before the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, which is expected to seek a response from all authorities concerned. Locals hope that judicial intervention will finally ensure accountability, balance development with environmental safety, and bring relief to hundreds of affected families along the NH-003 alignment.
