Chopped for Convenience—Kullu’s Sacred Trees Pay the Price of Progress

Image Source: The Tribune

A wave of public anger has erupted in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district after dozens of centuries-old deodar and pine trees were cut down to make way for the Bijli Mahadev ropeway project. The project, touted as a flagship tourism initiative, is now at the center of a heated debate over the balance between development and environmental preservation.

1. What’s Happening

The Bijli Mahadev cable car, being developed by National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) at a cost of ₹284 crore, will connect the Pirdi base station to the Bijli Mahadev temple, reducing travel time from 3 hours to just 10 minutes.
However, the construction has led to the felling of dozens of heritage trees, triggering protests from environmentalists and local residents.

2. Voices of Concern

Abhishek Rai, a Kullu-based environmentalist, said:
Locals argue that compensatory afforestation, for which ₹5 crore has been deposited, cannot replace ancient ecosystems.
“We’re not against development, but not at the cost of our fragile ecology,” said a resident named Mohan.

3. Official Response and Controversy

District authorities claim that all environmental norms were followed, and compensatory plantation will begin immediately.
A political stir was caused when a photo of former MP Maheshwar Singh attending the ropeway’s puja ceremony went viral. Singh emphasized that local religious beliefs and ecological sanctity must be respected.

4. Broader Implications

The incident has reignited debate over sustainable tourism and infrastructure development in ecologically sensitive Himalayan regions.
Locals are demanding upgrades to basic infrastructure—including water, sanitation, and waste management—before the ropeway becomes operational.

Sources: The Tribune, Janta Se Rishta