Four-Lane Fury: Bulldozers, Broken Homes & Betrayed Promises – Protest Brews in Shimla
Shimla, July 7 – “I lost my home. My daughters cry at night. Cracks were the warning, but no one cared,” says Ranjana Verma, a widow whose five-storey house in Bhattakufer came crashing down after vertical hill-cutting by the NHAI and its contractor.
Her family survived — but barely. Now, she’s leading the cry for justice. Ranjana’s story is not an exception. It’s a warning bell for the entire state.
Homes have collapsed. Land has cracked. Families are on the road. And the system? Silent.
Over 200 angry villagers from nine panchayats between Kaithlighat and Dhalli gathered at Kalibari, Shimla.
They came to demand answers — and justice. Organised under Himachal Kisan Sabha, CITU and other groups, the convention exposed how four-laning has wrecked lives in the name of development.
Bhattakufer is the latest example. One house gone. Six more damaged. Many declared unsafe. Residents forced to evacuate. No compensation. No rehabilitation. No accountability.
Farmers and activists slammed both the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Himachal government for turning a blind eye.
They announced a major protest outside NHAI’s Shimla office at Chakkar on July 16.
Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, President of Himachal Kisan Sabha, said:
“Wherever four-lanes come, destruction follows. Whether highways, hydropower, or airports — it’s the poor who suffer.
Their land is taken, their homes cracked, their water sources destroyed. But compensation? Not even close to fair.”
He demanded:
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Immediate compensation for Bhattakufer victims
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Urgent rehabilitation of families forced to vacate
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A joint expert committee (including Central engineers) to assess losses
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Compensation under Factor-2 — four times the market value — as per High Court orders
He warned that reckless cutting at steep slopes (up to 90 degrees) has destabilized nearby lands. Illegal muck dumping has buried pastures, choked water sources, and destroyed farmlands.
Sanjay Chauhan, former mayor and activist, said:
“Justice won’t be served on a platter. We must fight for it. That’s why July 16 will be a turning point. People must show up in numbers at NHAI’s door.”
The protest will be followed by grassroots meetings in all affected panchayats. The message is clear: No more silence. No more damage. No more excuses.
Residents like Reena Rapta, Brijlal, Sushil Sharma, and others shared chilling tales of living under cracked ceilings and sleepless nights. “We’re living on the edge. Literally,” one survivor said.
Civil society members Vijender Mehra, Vivek Kashyap, Sonia Sabarwal and others pledged support to intensify the struggle.
#FourLaneDisaster
#RehabilitateTheDisplaced
#StopHillDestruction
#JusticeForFarmers
