Sukhu Govt Rushing Into Vetiver Grass Project, Ignoring Sustainable Landslide Solutions

Shimla, 13 February 2025: Even as landslides continue to wreak havoc across Himachal Pradesh, the Sukhu government seems to be rushing headlong into a Vetiver grass project, ignoring a more comprehensive and scientific approach to slope stabilization.

Instead of addressing the root causes—unscientific road cutting, poor drainage, and unchecked deforestation and weak geology—the government is banking on a single non-native grass species, whose success in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem remains untested.

No grass can stabilize the weak strata of Himalayan Ecosystem.  Will Vetiver grass will grow in High hills? 

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced today that a pilot project for Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) cultivation has been launched to curb soil erosion and landslides.

While Vetiver is globally recognized for its deep-rooted stability, experts warn that relying solely on this non-native species may be an expensive gamble.

Success of pilot Project Needed 

The pilot project, initiated in collaboration with the Vetiver Foundation–Climate Resilience & Sustainability Initiatives (CRSI), Tamil Nadu, has seen 1,000 saplings planted in a nursery at Berti, Solan.

However, questions remain about its long-term viability in the steep, geologically young Himalayan slopes.

Ignoring Native Alternatives, Sustainable Engineering

Himalayan ecologists argue that indigenous species like sea buck thorn, naturally adapted to the region, whuch survuve in minus temperatures could provide a more ecologically sound alternative.

“Vetiver has shown success in tropical plains and embankments, but its performance in sub-zero conditions and high-altitude slopes remains untested,” says a soil conservation expert.

“Why not invest in native grasses and plants like sea buck thorn that have stabilized these mountains for centuries?” They can give sources of livelihoods to locals and stablise  the slopes. 

The government’s focus on bioengineering also sidesteps the pressing need for safer road construction technologies.

Experts emphasize that unplanned road cutting is one of the leading causes of landslides in Himachal Pradesh.

Instead of spending crores on an experimental Vetiver project, the state should invest in better slope-cutting techniques, controlled blasting, and proper drainage systems—critical factors in preventing landslides.

A Quick Fix or a Long-Term Solution?

While Sukhu’s government claims that Vetiver grass offers a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to conventional engineered solutions, critics argue that it is merely a band-aid over a deeper issue.

“The project sounds good on paper, but we need to see its effectiveness in real Himalayan conditions before rolling it out on a large scale,” says a senior geologist. “Himachal needs a holistic landslide mitigation policy, not just a quick fix.”

With another monsoon season around the corner, the urgency to act is real.

The question is: will the government choose a well-rounded, scientific approach, or will it push ahead with an untested experiment, hoping Vetiver will do what decades of mismanaged development have failed to prevent?