Himachal Pradesh to come up with hill-cutting policy, prompted by the rise in landslide incidents across the state and the need for stricter development norms.
“The basic objective is to minimise unnecessary hill cutting and ensure that development follows the natural profile of the hill. “Development cannot be stopped, but it has to be made safer. “We need a balance between development and environmental conservation.
Rana said that a recent analysis of satellite data had identified 6,494 landslide locations across the state between 2018 and 2025, with around 4,600 locations detected in 2025 alone using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. During the current monsoon season, 36 major landslide incidents have been reported in the state, with a significant number occurring in Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu districts, he said. Rana said the government was therefore working towards a more integrated approach involving disaster management, scientific assessment, early warning systems, land-use planning and stricter construction norms.
Special secretary, disaster management, Pushpendra Rana, said that the state government had drafted a Hill Cutting Policy aimed at regulating construction and development activities in vulnerable hill areas. The policy is currently under examination by the law department, he said. He said the policy would also seek to fix accountability for safe and scientific construction practices. The responsibility for scientific construction, slope stability, drainage and safe disposal of muck has to be clearly fixed,” he said. The answer is not to stop development, but to ensure that development takes place according to the carrying capacity, geology and disaster vulnerability of the area,” he said.
Natural drainage systems have to be protected, slopes need to be stabilised and excavated material and muck must be stored or dumped safely,” Rana said on Wednesday.
