After three years of widespread destruction caused by heavy rains and landslides, the Himachal Pradesh government has decided to bring strict building construction rules to rural areas as well. The aim is to reduce the impact of disasters made worse by climate change, State Town and Country Planning and Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani said on Saturday. The proposal will be taken up in the next Cabinet meeting.
Speaking to mediapersons in Shimla, Dharmani said construction practices in disaster-prone areas could no longer be ignored. “The government is planning to frame building construction norms under the Town and Country Planning Department for rural areas too. It is difficult to implement the same guidelines everywhere at once, but given the climate change challenges and rising frequency of disasters in the hill state, it is essential that we bring such rules for vulnerable areas,” he explained.
According to Dharmani, the Town and Country Planning Department, along with the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, has already prepared draft guidelines. “These will be presented in detail in the next Cabinet meeting. After deliberations, further suggestions will also be incorporated, and the information will be shared with the public through their representatives,” he said.
The minister stressed that houses must be structurally safe and built in secure locations. “Our houses must be structurally safe. Construction should not take place in flood-prone areas or near rivers and streams. Settlements should be avoided in zones where debris from earlier floods has accumulated. Likewise, construction should be prohibited in sliding zones. We will also try to protect existing green areas and create new ones where construction can be banned,” he added.
Dharmani underlined that the focus would be on planned and regulated development. “The aim is to minimise damage from disasters, ensure the safety of lives and property, and move towards balanced and sustainable development,” he said.
On enforcement, he explained that both local and specialised agencies will be involved. “The powers of the Town and Country Planning Directorate have been delegated to local officers in certain urban and special development areas so that people do not have to run to TCP offices. Panchayati Raj institutions, special area development authorities, and representatives from urban local bodies will also be involved to ensure that development is properly regulated and people benefit,” he said.
He pointed out that climate change has sharply increased the frequency of disasters in Himachal and other hill states and that only regulated construction can reduce risks in the future. “Our aim is to minimise losses while ensuring safety and balanced development,” Dharmani said.
Local officers, Panchayati Raj institutions, and special area development authorities will also be involved in enforcement.
On another issue, the minister welcomed the Education Department’s recent order banning mobile phones in schools. Issued on September 18, the order prohibits students and teachers from using phones during school hours. “"This is a progressive decision. It will help ensure that students are not distracted in classrooms and teachers remain fully engaged in teaching. The focus must be on meaningful interaction between teachers and students, and a phone-free environment is necessary for that,” he noted.
Dharmani also commented on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent announcement of Rs 1,500 crore in disaster relief for Himachal. While expressing gratitude, he highlighted that the funds must be released on time. "The Prime Minister has announced Rs 1,500 crore for Himachal, and we welcome this. But we must also remember that of the Rs 2,000 crore announced in 2023, only Rs 400 crore has been received so far. Unless the money is released quickly, relief, restoration, and rehabilitation work will suffer. Our people need immediate support, not delayed installments,” he said.
He added that restoration of roads, power supply, and water supply schemes is being done on a war footing, though complete rebuilding of damaged infrastructure will take more time.
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