Delegation Urges JP Nadda to Intervene in Bijli Mahadev Ropeway Project; Concerns Raised Over Dev Traditions and Public Sentiments.
New Delhi:
A delegation led by former MP and former MLA Maheshwar Singh met BJP National President and Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda in New Delhi, urging him to take up the issue of the proposed Bijli Mahadev Ropeway Project in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district with the central government.
The delegation comprised members of the Bijli Mahadev Temple Committee and the Bijli Mahadev Ropeway Opposition Struggle Committee, who expressed serious reservations about the setting up of a ropeway to the revered Bijli Mahadev Temple, a centuries-old shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva.
During the meeting, the representatives apprised Nadda of the deep-rooted dev traditions (dev parampara) and public sentiments associated with the sacred site. They emphasized that the construction of a ropeway could disturb the sanctity of the area and the religious customs that have been followed by the local dev society in Kullu for generations.
Maheshwar Singh stated that the community fully supports development but insists that it must be carried out in harmony with the faith, culture, and divine traditions of the region.
“We have requested Nadda to convey to the central government the collective sentiment of the people of Kullu and the dev society. I have full faith that considering the divine indications and public aspirations, a positive and sensitive decision will soon be taken regarding this project,” Singh said after the meeting.
JP Nadda, who hails from Himachal Pradesh himself, reportedly assured the delegation that their concerns would be communicated to the concerned ministries and that all aspects of the issue would be reviewed carefully.
The Bijli Mahadev Temple, located at an altitude of nearly 2,460 meters in the Pir Panjal range, attracts thousands of devotees every year. The shrine is known for its unique ritual in which the temple’s Shiva lingam is believed to shatter due to lightning strikes and is then restored with butter by local priests — a phenomenon symbolizing divine power.
While the proposed ropeway project aims to enhance accessibility for pilgrims and boost tourism, sections of the local populace and temple committees have voiced strong opposition, citing potential threats to the sanctity of the temple, environmental balance, and age-old traditions.
The meeting in Delhi is seen as part of continuing efforts by community representatives to ensure that development projects in Himachal Pradesh are carried out with due respect for dev culture and local sentiments.
