Blasting Damages Dozens of Homes, Company denies allegations

Munish Sood

Mandi/Dharampur: The construction of National Highway No. 03, connecting Sarkaghat, Dharampur, and Mandi, has sparked widespread controversy. Allegations have surfaced that the construction company and its contractors are operating without proper oversight, causing severe damage to local homes.

Meanwhile, the administration and public representatives are being accused of either negligence or collusion.

Former District Councilor and CPI(M) leader Bhupender Singh has strongly condemned the company’s methods after inspecting severe cracks in dozens of houses in Sajao Piplu and Bhedi villages.

He stated that the company has been carrying out unregulated blasting between Paadchu and Hukkl for the past two months, resulting in significant structural damage to homes and cattle sheds.

“The explosions have caused cracks in nearly two dozen houses, shattered windows, and broken floor tiles. The company’s approach is highly irresponsible, and neither the administration nor local representatives have taken any action to address the issue,” Singh remarked.

Singh, accompanied by Kisan Sabha Block President Rantaj Rana, visited the affected villages and noted that houses located 300–400 meters away from the blasting site have suffered damages, which, they claim, is clear evidence that the company is violating safety norms.

According to legal regulations, controlled blasting requires prior approval and must include safety measures such as surface marking to prevent excessive impact. Normally, blasting is only permitted after a thorough site survey to ensure no damage to nearby structures. However, in this case, no such approvals were obtained.

“The reckless approach of the company has left dozens of homes in a precarious state. Immediate action must be taken against those responsible, and affected families must be compensated,” Singh asserted.

Residents also highlighted severe environmental and infrastructural concerns caused by the construction work. The excavation has demolished the road leading from Paadchu Patwar House to Bhedi, cutting off access to fields and grazing areas for locals.

The company has cut cliffs 200–300 meters high but has installed retaining walls of only six meters, raising concerns of landslides during the monsoon season.

Regulations require water sprinkling twice daily to control dust, but the company has neglected this, leading to deteriorating air quality and rising health concerns.

Contractors have been dumping debris in unauthorized areas, particularly in Banhal, where residents claim the situation is worsening.

Laborers brought in from outside the region are allegedly causing disturbances near villages at night, further troubling the local population.

The following residents have reported damage to their homes: Prithi Chand, Mahavir, Karm Singh, Sanjay Kumar, Meera, Kamla, Balbir, Surat Singh, Bhag Singh, Tulsi Devi, Shivram, Vrijesh, Shakuntala, Preemi, Pinku, Suresh, Bhader Singh, Sher Singh, Prakash, Shoma, Nek Ram, Julmi, Sonu, Lovely, Omkar, Anju, Sheela, Ratna Chand, Pritam, Mehar Singh, Mridula, Rajkumar, Kapil Dev, Suresh Kumar, Bhader Singh, Balam Ram, Bimla, and Leela Devi.

Dharampur Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Joginder Patel stated that he had not received any formal complaint regarding the damages. However, he assured that if such incidents have occurred, he would summon the company’s contractors and conduct an on-site inspection along with concerned officials.

“If these allegations are true, we will not only investigate the matter but also take necessary action against the company,” Patel said. He also promised a survey of illegal dumping sites to assess environmental damage.

Meanwhile, Project Engineer Jitendra Pandey, overseeing the highway construction from Paadchu to Kotri, dismissed the claims.

“The villages are quite far from the blasting site, so I do not understand how such damage could have occurred. However, I will personally inspect the affected areas,” Pandey stated.

He further revealed that while the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had approved four dumping sites, private dumping was initiated in 10–12 locations with agreements from local landowners.