Nature's Revenge: Himachal’s Warning to Humanity

Nature's Revenge: Himachal’s Warning to Humanity

"By destroying nature for our own selfish interests, we are inviting destruction for our future generations." — This is not just a quote from a blog. It is a reality knocking on our doors with increasing violence.

The once-peaceful and divinely blessed land of Himachal Pradesh, known as Devbhoomi, is now under siege—not from outsiders or invaders, but from our own reckless actions. Concrete, tunnels, dynamite, and greed are replacing forests, rivers, and sacred silence.

⚠️ The Signs Are Loud and Clear

In recent years, natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh have increased at an alarming rate:

• Flash floods have become annual tragedies. Rivers that were once revered as goddesses are now turning violent. The monsoon no longer brings relief—it brings fear.
• Landslides are claiming more lives. Just this year (2025), several people have died in catastrophic landslides triggered by heavy rains and construction-induced soil loosening.
• On the Mandi-Manali four-lane highway, the dream of development has turned into a nightmare. Massive landslides are frequent, damaging property, blocking transport, and endangering countless lives.
• Cloudbursts and glacier lake outbursts are becoming more common due to rapid climate change accelerated by unchecked deforestation and carbon-heavy construction projects.

Himachal is crying, and we must listen before it's too late.

🚧 Development or Destruction?

Projects like the Jalori Tunnel, Bijli Mahadev Ropeway, and the numerous hydropower projects on our rivers are being marketed as signs of progress. But what is the true cost of this “progress”?

❌ Jalori Tunnel

Once untouched and sacred, the Jalori region is being pierced by machinery. This project, while meant to ease travel, threatens the fragile ecological balance of the Great Himalayan National Park area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Blasting in such an earthquake-prone zone is a recipe for disaster.

❌ Bijli Mahadev Ropeway

This spiritual pilgrimage site has been peaceful and pure for centuries. But now, a ropeway is being built in the name of tourism. What about the faith of those who walked barefoot to reach the shrine? What about the trees being felled and the wildlife being chased away?

❌ River Projects

Our sacred rivers—Beas, Sutlej, Parvati—are being dammed, tunneled, and redirected. The rivers that once nourished our land are now turning against us. Is it a coincidence that floods are increasing around the very areas where riverbed constructions are happening?

🏞️ Devbhoomi or Dam Bhoomi?

Our ancestors worshipped mountains, rivers, forests, and even the air and sky. In Dev Sanskriti, nature is not separate from divinity. Yet, we are destroying the very gods we once revered.

We are turning Devbhoomi into a Dam Bhoomi, where profits come before people, and cement takes precedence over the sacred.

What message are we leaving for our future generations?

• A land stripped of forests?
• A state where holy rivers are reduced to pipelines?
• A culture where deities are used as tourist attractions instead of divine guardians?

🔁 Repeating Mistakes of Uttarakhand

We only need to look at Uttarakhand to see our future:

• The Joshimath sinking crisis was not natural—it was manmade.
• The Char Dham road project led to deforestation, landslides, and disruption of centuries-old routes of pilgrimage.
• Hydropower projects like the Tapovan-Vishnugad dam failed tragically during floods, claiming lives and destroying ecosystems.

Is Himachal next? Yes—unless we take urgent action.

📢 The Call to Resist

We must oppose all destructive development that puts profit above ecology, faith, and life itself. Some necessary steps include:

• ✅ Public protests against tunnels, dams, and commercial ropeways in eco-sensitive zones
• ✅ Legal petitions and PILs to halt harmful construction
• ✅ Educating locals about long-term environmental costs
• ✅ Promoting sustainable eco-tourism instead of reckless infrastructure
• ✅ Respecting the wisdom of Devtas and local traditions that prioritize harmony with nature

🌿 Return to Roots, Not Ruins

As someone who is part of Devsanskriti, I believe our deities are not just idols—they are guardians of balance. When we destroy forests, we anger the Dev Shakti. When we disrespect rivers, we insult our goddesses. Nature, once hurt, responds with fury.

Himachal is not just a tourist spot. It is a living civilization built on spirituality and sustainability. Let’s not allow tunnels and roads to bury this heritage.

🙏 A Final Word

Our ancestors left us with a land blessed with purity, peace, and divine power. If we don’t act now, we will leave our children a barren, broken, and dangerous landscape.

This is a wake-up call. From the Mandi-Manali landslides to the Bijli Mahadev ropeway protests, every warning is loud and tragic.

Let's stand for nature. Let’s stand for our Devbhoomi.

"Nature does not need us. But we need nature. Choose wisely."