Radha Soami Satsang Beas Penalized for Environmental Offenses in Himachal Pradesh
A recent report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) by Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa has exposed significant environmental violations by the Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB), a spiritual organization based in Amritsar, Punjab. The investigation focused on the RSSB's center in Paraur village, Kangra district, revealing unauthorized activities that have drawn penalties and raised concerns among local residents.
Illegal Tree Felling and Financial Penalties Imposed
According to the report, an inquiry by the forest department uncovered that the RSSB illegally felled 35 trees on private land. As a result, the forest department imposed a penalty of Rs 5,000 for this violation. Additionally, the organization was fined Rs 2,000 for cutting down 10 more trees in the Balla village area. The report clarified that no illegal tree felling was detected on forest land adjacent to the RSSB property, which spans across five villages in the district.
Muck Dumping and Environmental Damage
The report also confirmed allegations of illegal muck dumping on the banks of seasonal rivulets. Various departments examined these claims, with the Jal Shakti Vibhag highlighting that earth filling on the left bank of Taal khad posed serious risks. These included obstruction of water flow, pollution, and potential harm to aquatic life. Furthermore, the Jal Vibhag reported that a water supply scheme, serving approximately 9,000 inhabitants across 42 villages, was damaged due to the earth fill. The department incurred an expense of around Rs 10 lakh to lay a new pipeline to restore the water supply.
While muck dumping and road formation using hume pipes were observed during inspections, the deputy commissioner noted that no conclusive evidence was found of diverting the natural flow of the khad. In response to these activities, the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, in October of last year, directed the RSSB to cease muck dumping and later imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh for carrying out disposal without protective measures.
Impact on Local Infrastructure and Community
The joint committee's inspection revealed that a local footpath was temporarily blocked due to development activities by the RSSB, forcing villagers to use an alternate route. The Palampur SDM was instructed to demarcate the path according to revenue records, and the RSSB agreed to restore the footpath in line with this demarcation.
Background of the Investigation
The NGT ordered the formation of a joint committee to investigate allegations of environmental vandalism, illegal land acquisition, and encroachments by the RSSB, following a petition filed in October last year by Seema Kumari, the Pradhan of Ghaneta panchayat, and residents of Dhoran, Balla, Paraur, and Darang villages in Kangra district. In their petition, residents accused the Paraur-based RSSB center near Palampur of illegally expanding infrastructure after acquiring local land through various means and engaging in massive construction activities on agricultural and forest land, violating the state Land Revenue Act and the Town and Country Planning Act.
Clean Chit on Land Encroachment Allegations
Despite these environmental violations, the Kangra deputy commissioner gave a clean chit to the RSSB regarding accusations of illegal land acquisition and encroachments. The report stated that an investigation by the joint committee found no evidence of encroachment by the organization. The RSSB holds approximately 5,29,632 square metres of land across five villages—Paraur, Dhoran, Balla, Ghaneta, and Darang—in Kangra district. A joint inspection conducted on November 4, 2025, by committee members appointed by the NGT confirmed that land registrations were carried out in accordance with the law, with no complaints of coercion or illegal acquisition reported to the Revenue Department.
A fresh demarcation of the land conducted by Revenue officials on November 25, 2025, further confirmed that no encroachment had been made by the RSSB. This aspect of the report highlights a distinction between the environmental offenses and the land ownership issues, providing a comprehensive view of the situation.
