4 min readPaonta SahibUpdated: Feb 13, 2026 09:41 AM IST
Officials said the target is to complete the bulk of underwater structural work by the end of February, well before the onset of the monsoon season, when the Yamuna assumes a far more turbulent and dangerous form. (Express Photo)
After almost 14 months of the work being awarded, the long-awaited rejuvenation of the only site in Himachal Pradesh selected under the ambitious Integrated Namami Gange Mission has finally begun. The River Front Development (RFD) project aimed at revitalising the Yamuna riverfront at Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district — located on the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border — is now underway.
Cofferdams have been erected within the riverbed to divert the natural flow of the Yamuna, allowing work to proceed in relatively dry conditions; nearly half a dozen high-capacity pumps have been deployed to flush out seeping groundwater and dewater the submerged surface so that underwater concreting can continue uninterrupted. Officials said the target is to complete the bulk of underwater structural work by the end of February, well before the onset of the monsoon season, when the Yamuna assumes a far more turbulent and dangerous form. The total cost of the beautification and infrastructure works to be between Rs 22 crore and Rs 25 crore, spanning three major components — the sewage treatment facility, crematorium construction, and riverbank ghat development.
“We are running against time,” a senior officer of WAPCOS, the Public Sector Enterprise functioning under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, told The Indian Express. “The River Front Development project was sanctioned in September 2024, but it took nearly 12 to 13 months to complete procedural formalities, including obtaining No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the concerned departments.”
The officer said that the principal hurdle involved establishing jurisdiction over the riverfront land. “Himachal Pradesh is a special category state from the forest conservation perspective. Most land adjoining rivers falls under reserved forest. In this case, however, maintenance of the riverfront rested with the Municipal Committee of Paonta Sahib. We ultimately secured NOCs from both the Municipal Committee and the Forest Department in November last year, and construction began in December 2025,” he said.
WAPCOS, which has engaged private contractors to execute the project, brings prior experience from Phase-I of the Namami Gange Mission. The agency has previously developed and upgraded ghats at prominent pilgrimage sites including Gangotri, Badrinath, and Haridwar. The Paonta Sahib site holds immense religious and cultural significance. The stretch being developed lies directly behind the historic Gurudwara Paonta Sahib, a major Sikh pilgrimage centre, and is located adjacent to an equally revered Radha Krishna Temple.
Senior Engineer Ankur Singh of WAPCOS said more than 50 per cent of the underwater foundation work has already been completed. “Our priority is to finish all sub-base and underwater concreting before the monsoon. The high flood level at Paonta Sahib is recorded at 384 metres above mean sea level, so timing is critical,” he said. Ankur Singh said, “The RFD work at the Yamuna ghat comprises multiple components designed to improve both ecological health and public access. These include the construction of a 150-metre-long Aastha Path, a 160-metre bathing ghat, and extensive river protection works. The project also provides for the establishment of a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to prevent untreated waste from entering the river, along with the construction of a crematorium to facilitate environmentally safer last rites practices along the riverbank.”
“Yamuna is one of the most significant tributaries of the Ganga. It flows from Uttarakhand into Himachal Pradesh before entering Haryana and Delhi. Paonta Sahib is the only site in Himachal Pradesh selected under this phase. We issued the NOC after a meeting of senior officials last year. We were told the site will be handed over to the MC after the completion of work,” Executive Officer Kanchan Bala, MC Paonta Sahib, said.
Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting.
Professional Background
Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters.
Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India.
Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh:
1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth.
2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025).
3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025)
4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025)
Legal & Agricultural Affairs
"Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned.
"Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur.
3. Governance & Environment
"Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act.
"Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters.
Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc:
crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023)
Signature Beats
Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs.
X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar
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