Overview

• On August 2, Sukhu formally met Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav to request forest‐cover norm relaxations allowing one bigha of forest land per homeless family.
• The state cabinet approved a special relief package providing up to ₹7 lakh for destroyed houses, ₹1 lakh for damaged shops and homes, and additional grants for tenants, crops and livestock.
• Sukhu pressed for separate forest and disaster‐relief rules tailored to Himalayan terrain, citing the state’s 68 percent forest cover and complex topography.
• He urged directives for river dredging and proper disposal of dredged material to reduce flood risk in vulnerable valleys.
• Recent torrential rains and recurring cloudbursts damaged roads, bridges, water schemes and properties across Himachal, underscoring the need for specialised mountain‐state disaster management.