16-05-2025
Manali residents oppose Turkish firm's conducting railway survey due to security environmental and livelihood concerns
Manali: Hoteliers and residents of this popular Himalayan destination have demanded the removal of
Turkish firm Yüksel Proje
from the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway survey, citing national security concerns and ecological threats to the fragile mountain region.
Turkiye sided with Pakistan in the now-ceased Indian military operation against terror state within the neighbour's territory.
At a press conference on Friday, Ved Ram Thakur, chief adviser to the Hotel Association of Manali, said public anger was growing against the involvement of the Turkish company, with several village panchayats also voicing opposition to the ongoing survey. "The survey was handed to Yüksel Proje, a Turkish firm known for its close ties with Pakistan and repeated anti-India statements on Kashmir," said lawyer Rewat Rana.
"Entrusting strategic terrain mapping to a foreign firm from an adversarial country undermines national security — especially in a border-sensitive zone such as Himachal-Ladakh."
Beyond geopolitical tensions, locals are also rejecting the proposed alignment of the railway line due to its projected environmental and economic fallout. "The current alignment would require the felling of more than 1 lakh trees," said Gyan Chand Thakur, a resident.
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"This isn't just about deforestation — it would threaten water sources, destroy biodiversity, and cause irreversible damage to forest ecosystems.
"
Thakur warned the state that the route, which cuts through key agricultural and horticultural belts, would devastate apple orchards and farmlands — a cornerstone of the region's economy. "Thousands of families rely on fruit cultivation for their livelihood. The railway's path could uproot their future," he said.
He further cautioned people that tunnel blasting, vibrations, and large-scale construction activity would erode the natural beauty that draws tourists to Manali each year, damaging the hospitality industry, transport operators, and artisans. With opposition mounting, the local hotel association and civil society groups have called on the central govt to cancel the Turkish firm's involvement and reconsider the railway alignment in consultation with local stakeholders.
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