Committee to meet protest group in Delhi on November 3; NGT also seeks replies
Munish Sood
Kullu: The controversy surrounding the Bijli Mahadev Ropeway Project in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district has now reached the Prime Minister’s Office, with PM Narendra Modi taking note of the issue amid rising public opposition and legal scrutiny.
The Prime Minister has set up a three-member committee, headed by BJP national president and Union Health Minister JP Nadda, to examine the concerns raised by locals and temple committees. The panel also includes Arun Singh and Mahendra Pandey.
Protest panel to meet Nadda on Nov 3
The Bijli Mahadev Ropeway Struggle Committee, which has been opposing the Rs 274-crore project, has been invited for a meeting with the panel in New Delhi on November 3.
Former MP and former MLA Maheshwar Singh confirmed the development, saying that the delegation would present the “Dev Vaani” (divine message) from Lord Bijli Mahadev to the committee. “The gods have opposed any interference with sacred land. We hope the Centre respects the Dev Sansad’s word and cancels the ropeway,” he said.
The committee’s recommendations will be submitted to the Prime Minister before the Centre takes a final call on the project.
NGT issues notices to govt, agencies
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has also taken up the matter, issuing notices to the Himachal government, the Union environment ministry, National Highways Logistics Management Limited, Central and State Pollution Control Boards, Forest Department, and the Kullu Deputy Commissioner.
The tribunal has sought replies from all concerned before November 25, following a petition filed by local resident Nachiketa Sharma that flagged ecological damage and violation of environmental norms.
Locals, deities ‘oppose’ project
The project aims to build a 2.33-km-long ropeway connecting Mohl near Kullu to the Bijli Mahadev temple, which sits atop a hill 14 km from the town. The ropeway would reduce the uphill trek of nearly 3 km to a 10-minute ride.
However, locals and devotees have resisted the move, citing both religious sentiment and environmental impact. Around 200 trees are slated to be cut, with nearly 80 already felled, triggering protests by villagers and temple authorities.
During the Dev Sansad (divine assembly) at Naggar on Friday, several oracles declared that Lord Bijli Mahadev was “angry” over the disturbance caused by the construction. “If the project continues, nature will retaliate,” warned temple representatives.
Project faces uncertain future
The Rs 274-crore project, meant to boost tourism in the Kullu-Manali region, has faced multiple roadblocks since its announcement. The struggle committee has staged protests in Dhalpur Ground and even stopped work at the site earlier this year.
With the Prime Minister’s intervention and the upcoming meeting in Delhi, both supporters and opponents now await a decision that could determine the project’s fate — and possibly set a precedent for how development and faith coexist in Himachal’s “Valley of Gods.”
