HP Assembly adopts resolution on Rohtang tunnel
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 13 — The Himachal Pradesh Assembly today unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to start work on the tunnel under the Rohtang Pass in the next financial year, keeping in view the strategic importance of the Manali-Leh highway.

Replying to the discussion on the resolution, Mr P.K. Dhumal, the Chief Minister, said that the need for a tunnel under the high mountain pass, which remains covered with snow for a greater part of the year, had been felt for long but the Planning Commission had its reservations on account of the high cost of the project.

However, the Kargil conflict had underlined its importance as an alternative route to the Leh-Srinagar road, which was within the firing range of the Pakistani artillery. Tunnels under the Rohtang and two more passes would help provide an all-weather link to Leh. Besides, with modern technology, the tunnel could be bored across the pass at much lower cost and over a short period.

He said he had already taken up the matter with the Prime Minister and Defence Minister, who were favourably inclined to the proposal.

Earlier, moving the resolution, Mr Mohinder Singh, the Minister for Public Works, said the road was not important from the point of view of defence but would also go a long way in providing a fillip to economic activity, particularly the tourism industry, in the tribal Lahaul valley. He said pre-feasibility studies had already been conducted by the Railway Institute of Techno Economic Survey (RITES).

Mr Kaul Singh said the 8.9-km-long tunnel would shorten the distance between Manali and Keylong by over 60 km. He underlined the need for proper disposal of the huge debris that would be generated due to the construction of tunnel, lest it create environmental problems.

Mr Ram Lal Markanda, the Minister for Rural Development, said that as per the survey conducted by Konkon Railway Company, the total cost of the tunnel would be about Rs 499 crore and it could be completed within four to five years.

Earlier, Mr Mohinder Singh, the Public Works Minister, informed the House during question hour that the government was considering to reorganise the circles of the PWD with a view to ensuring equal workload.

He said the circles were created over the years keeping in view the topography of various areas. While Mandi circle was looking after 10 assembly segments, others like Kulu were covering less than three. However, this did affect allocation of funds as the distribution was made as per norms fixed for maintenance and repairs of roads, which took care of various factors like length of roads, topography of areas, periodical repair and resurfacing and damage caused by rain and floods.

Replying to another question, Mr Mohinder Singh told Mr Ram Lal (Congress) that the government was trying to arrange funds from HUDCO for the construction of Babkhol bridge over Gobind Sagar. He said as per the latest survey, the bridge was likely to cost Rs 30 crore. Screening of competent firms had been completed and technical and financial bids would be evaluated soon.

Mr Roop Singh Thakur, the Forest Minister, told the House in a written reply that 563 cases of illicit felling of trees and 68 cases of smuggling of timber came to the notice of the department from August 15 to November 15, 1999. In 187 cases, the offence was compounded, while FIRs were lodged with the police in 26 cases. The remaining 350 cases were under investigation. In all, illicit timber worth Rs 66.61 lakh was seized from offenders.

In another written reply, the PWD Minister informed Mr Ram Lal that as many as 11,744 workers were engaged during 1998-99 and up to October 31, 1999, on a 89-day basis and 3006 of them were continuing even after completion of the stipulated period.