In Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district, a deep unease is spreading across the villages located below the sacred Bijli Mahadev hill. Locals in the Kharal Valley say the land is shifting—literally and figuratively—as visible cracks appear on the slopes, and so does the trust in the development narrative driving the Bijli Mahadev ropeway project.
Local residents have been pointing to the large-scale felling of trees for the ropeway construction in the region as the main cause for rapid land subsidence. For locals who have lived in close rhythm with nature for many generations, this sudden "development" feels both dangerous and deeply unsettling.
“Is this really development—or destruction?” asks Yashpal, a resident of the Kharal Valley, echoing the fears of many. The cracks, he says, began to show soon after the trees were cut.
Om Prakash, another local, warns that over 32 villages are at risk. “The moment the forest was disturbed, the land started reacting. Without a through scientific assessment, how can anyone be sure this won’t turn catastrophic?”
For many, the opposition is not just ecological—it’s spiritual. Sanjeev, the 'haryan' (custodian) of the Bijli Mahadev shrine, believes that any project on the hill must respect the will of the deity. He stated that the rare lightning strike on the Shivalingam this year, the first in 15 years, is a sign of divine displeasure.
Maheshwar Singh, former MP and 'chharibardar' of Lord Raghunath, echoes this belief, reminding that Lord Mahadev is revered as the protector who absorbs natural disasters to shield his people.
Protests have been building steadily. Women from the valley recently marched into Kullu town alongside other residents, demanding an immediate halt to the ropeway project. They allege that the Forest Department brushed aside public hearings and also ignored the sentiments of the community as well as the deity.
In recent months, villages across the region—Akhara, Sarwari, Dhalpur and Bhuntar—have witnessed repeated rallies, shutdowns, and bazaar bandhs in solidarity. Local leaders like Sarchand Thakur of the Ropeway Virodh Sangharsh Samiti and Sanjeev Kumar, the Jiya Panchayat head, are leading the charge, urging the government to acknowledge the fragile ecosystem and sacred traditions.
With no official response yet and emotions running high, the protests are going to intensify in the days to come.
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