Kasol, 20 February — Plans to divert water from Manikaran, a revered pilgrimage site for Hindus and Sikhs, to Kasol for a hot bath facility sparked strong opposition from locals, leading authorities to explore an alternative solution. Instead of transferring water, a new hot spring will be dug in Kasol.
The proposal, initially discussed in a recent meeting of the Special Area Development Authority (SADA), included the construction of a nature park in Kasol with a hot bath facility, with water to be piped from Manikaran.
However, locals and BJP leaders opposed the move, arguing that Manikaran’s sacred water should not be used for commercial purposes. A petition was also submitted to Kullu Deputy Commissioner Torul S. Raveesh, who confirmed that discussions were still at an early stage.
“Even local deities would not permit the transfer of water from Manikaran to Kasol,” BJP leaders stated, insisting that if a hot bath facility was necessary, it should be built in Manikaran itself.
Sunder Singh Thakur, a local Congress MLA, said an alternative had been found.
“There was a proposal to use spillover water from Manikaran, but now we have decided to dig hot water springs in Kasol instead,” he said. He also stressed that the holy water should not be commercialized for tourist baths or toilets.
While some locals welcomed the compromise, Thakur claimed that certain individuals were opposing development efforts in the region.
