Shimla: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today chaired a meeting with senior officers of the World Bank to review the Himachal Pradesh Resilient Action for Development and Disaster Recovery (HP-READY) project, which is scheduled to be rolled out in January, 2026. The Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh has been increasingly witnessing the adverse effects of climate change, resulting in significant loss of human lives and damage to critical infrastructure. He stated that frequent natural disasters have compelled the State Government to divert substantial resources toward restoring damaged infrastructure.
Sukhu said that in strategic collaboration with the World Bank, the State Government was implementing this major initiative for disaster recovery with several priority projects already identified. The total cost of the project is Rs. 2,687 crore. He added that the mission was not only crucial for compensating losses caused by disasters between 2023 and 2025, but also for strengthening and rebuilding the State’s infrastructure to withstand future calamities.
The Chief Minister said that the HP-READY project aims to enhance early warning systems, restore disaster-damaged infrastructure such as roads, bridges and buildings, and undertake channelization of rivulets. It will also focus on developing resilient public services, promoting livelihood opportunities through initiatives like “Green Panchayats”, and strengthening risk-informed social safety and insurance mechanisms.
Sukhu emphasized the importance of building infrastructure that supports farmers and horticulturists, ensuring their livelihoods remain secure even during disasters. He said that under this project Controlled Atmosphere (CA) stores would be established at 10 locations across the state to help farmers preserve their produce and prevent financial loss during adverse conditions.
Additional Chief Secretary Revenue KK Pant, Special Secretary DC Rana, World Bank team leader for the project Anoop Karanth, specialists disaster management Vijay and Sheena Arora were present at the meeting.
