A week after calling the damage to land and apple trees because of landslides near Dhalli in Shimla an “act of god”, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has changed its stand and agreed to pay Rs 1.80 crore as relief to the orchard owner, officials said.
Narinder Singh Rathore, who had approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) demanding relief for the loss of around 440 apple trees, said on Wednesday that he has withdrawn his case after NHAI agreed to pay Rs 1.80 crore for the damages.
He said Narinder’s orchard was badly damaged during heavy rains in May 2025 when landslides hit the area, which he claimed were linked to the NHAI four-laning project.
Earlier, in an affidavit filed on May 19, 2026, NHAI had called the damage an “act of god” and denied responsibility for the loss suffered by Rathore.
However, the authority has now changed its position and agreed to pay compensation after assessments were done by the Public Works Department and the Horticulture Department, officials said.
As part of the settlement, NHAI will also buy Rathore’s 1.5 bighas of land that was heavily damaged by debris, along with paying compensation for the loss of about 440 apple trees.
“Our family has been living here and growing fruits for generations but god acted only after the NHAI started cutting hills at 90 degrees to build national highways, construct tunnels and four-lanes,” Rathore said in a sarcastic remark.
The horticulture department had earlier estimated the total loss at Rs 40 lakh, but NHAI disputed this and said only 40 apple trees were actually damaged after its own site inspection.
The authority also submitted a May 2025 India Meteorological Department (IMD) report, which said Shimla received 104.5 mm rainfall compared to the normal 69.8 mm during that period.
NHAI had earlier argued that landslides are natural disasters and fall under “act of god”, saying the event was beyond human control and could not have been prevented.
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