Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena has directed all concerned authorities to identify suitable muck dumping sites across Himachal Pradesh, with particular focus on the disaster-affected districts of Mandi, Kullu, Chamba, and Shimla. These directions were issued during the 26th meeting of the State Executive Committee (SEC), held under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
Emphasizing the urgency of the matter, the Chief Secretary stated that these four districts, having faced the brunt of natural disasters in 2023 and 2025, must be prioritized for site identification and clearance planning. He instructed the Public Works Department (PWD) to work in close coordination with the Forest Department, Jal Shakti Department, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure effective inter-departmental cooperation.
A significant administrative change was also announced during the meeting. The power to grant permission for muck removal, previously held at the State level, has now been delegated to the respective District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs). This is expected to speed up on-ground operations and improve responsiveness in affected areas.
The SEC meeting also reviewed the action taken reports on directives issued in previous sessions. One of the key points discussed was the implementation of early warning systems by dam authorities in compliance with the 2015 guidelines and the Dam Safety Act, 2021. The Chief Secretary informed the Committee that Himachal Pradesh currently has 30 major dams, of which 25 are completed and five are under construction.
Further, the Committee deliberated on the preliminary project report under the National Landslide Risk Mitigation Programme (NLRMP), amounting to Rs. 139 crore, which is slated to be submitted to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Another report under the Mitigation Scheme for Forest Fire Risk Management (MSFFRM), amounting to Rs. 8.16 crore and proposed through the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF), was placed before the Committee for ex-post facto approval.
The meeting also approved the utilization of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) resources amounting to Rs. 78.76 lakh for the removal of 46,988 cubic meters of debris from public spaces in Mandi district.
Additionally, a proposal to establish a State Disaster Response Reserve (SDRR), modeled on the National Disaster Response Reserve (NDRR), was discussed and approved. The proposed reserve aims to ensure timely availability of essential resources and equipment during future disaster events.
