Activists question Beas riverbed construction; work on highway going Right of Way: NHAI

Environmentalists and green activists have expressed concerns regarding excavations and modifications to the Beas Riverbed near the Kullu-Manali National Highway. They warn that these interventions could disrupt the river's natural flow and heighten flood risks. This has become a pressing issue following floods in 2023 and 2025 that damaged infrastructure and parts of the highway.

Guman Singh, an environmentalist with Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, asked whether the ongoing work would effectively address flood damage or introduce new risks, calling for a scientific evaluation of the potential impacts on water flow, sediment movement, and villages on the river's opposite and downstream banks. Another activist, Sandeep Minhas, cautioned that heavy machinery usage could harm aquatic life.

The Public Action Committee, a Punjab-based NGO, has served NHAI and other authorities with a legal notice demanding a halt to the construction and the disclosure of approvals, floodplain assessments, and technical studies. The committee highlighted recent photos showing RCC construction within the river channel, arguing that such work could modify the river's shape, obstruct floodwater movement, and increase erosion in surrounding areas.

NHAI's Project Director for the Kullu-Manali segment, Akashdeep Singh, acknowledged receiving the concerns and stated that the authority is investigating them. He emphasized that the ongoing work is part of repairing and reconstructing the damaged highway within the Right of Way. Singh stated that he visited the affected section recently and plans to return within a week.

He also claimed that the activists allege the NHAI is exceeding its jurisdiction and suggested that the demarcation should be rechecked. The Kullu-Manali National Highway is under the jurisdiction of NHAI's Project Implementation Unit in Mandi. A senior NHAI official clarified that the photos shared by environmentalists and the NGO show the ongoing work where water flow is being redirected temporarily to execute construction.

They explained that the NHAI is conducting flood-protection and highway reconstruction works along the Beas corridor.