Restore Rohtang Pass for traffic; HP to defence ministry
SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh government on Wednesday asked the Border Road Organisation (BRO) to reopen the 13,050-ft Rohtang Pass for traffic to facilitate movement of people of Lahaul & Spiti, a day after a group of locals forcibly entered the strategic under-construction tunnel.
In the wake of pressure from locals to open the tunnel, Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur took up the matter with ministry of defence. “We have received the orders. Work will begin tomorrow (on Thursday),” said a defence official, who requested anonymity. He added, “Government has made special mention about problems being faced by locals after closure of the pass due to early winters.”
“Government has aggressively taken up matter with the BRO to restore Rohtang Pass for vehicular traffic to facilitate people of Lahaul valley, which was closed due to recent snowfall,” said additional chief secretary Manisha Nanda.
The BRO, a wing of defence ministry, had officially closed the pass for vehicular traffic on November 12 after region experienced heavy snowfall.
The move came after some people, on their way to Manali, forcibly entered the strategic under-construction tunnel.
In the wee hours of Tuesday, a group of around 60 people at the north portal of the tunnel at Sissu demanded the authorities to allow them move through the 8.8-kilometre under-construction tunnel to reach Manali.
The situation, however, turned chaotic when two women travellers fell unconscious inside the tunnel due to lack of oxygen. While one of the women was hospitalised in Manali, other was referred to PGI in Chandigarh. “Since work on construction of Rohtang tunnel was under progress, it is not safe for plying of vehicles,” Nanda said.
The BRO had earlier declined the state government’s request citing that the tunnel was unsafe for traffic movement and repeated vehicular movement hampers the construction of the tunnel which is already running three years behind the schedule.
After the pass was closed, people of Lahaul & Spiti had repeatedly asked the government and defence authorities to allow use of tunnel for transportation twice a week. Defence authorities had agreed to let them use the tunnel, but only in case of an emergency.
Rohtang Pass, gateway to Lahual & Spiti, remains closed for six months a year. In May, it is thrown open for traffic after snow melts. This year, locals were unable to stock ration for winter months due to snowfall in the last week of September.
BRO SEEKS ACTION AGAINST INCITERS
The BRO has sought legal action against those who provoked locals to enter the tunnel without permission from defence authorities.
It has also demanded the Lahual and Spiti deputy commissioner (DC) to initiate legal action against such persons. The BRO has also sealed the north portal of the tunnel and set up a police post to prevent people from entering the tunnel.