Shimla, Aug. 31 -- Having witnessed devastation in the last three years owing to recurring flash floods and cloudbursts, the Himachal Pradesh government will bring in regulations on unplanned construction near rivers and drainage channels.

Revenue, horticulture and tribal development minister Jagat Singh Negi said that the state government has been examining the issue of unplanned construction near rivers and drainage channels through a cabinet sub-committee, which has held several meetings.

He said, "The cabinet sub-committee had submitted recommendations to the government aimed at developing a model panchayat concept, under which every panchayat could have its own Standard operating procedures (SOP) for regulating construction based o...