Pabbar channelisation will avert floods: CM

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 14

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today laid the foundation stone of Rs 191-crore Pabbar river channelisation project at Mandli, Rohru.

He said the river would be channelised from Tikkri to Hatkoti and 177.68 hectares would be reclaimed, benefitting over 2,000 houses. “The channelisation will save property worth Rs 662 crore under threat from floods in the Pabbar river,” he said.

It will also provide protection to 19 water supply schemes of the area, six bridges and two power projects falling in the danger zone of the river. The CM, however, made it clear that no construction would be allowed on the river beds after the land was reclaimed.

Virbhadra said the government would check the quality of roads being constructed throughout the state. “Our government is committed to providing road connectivity in far-flung areas,” he said in Badiyara and Mandli villages.

The Chief Minister urged the people to come forward to voluntarily donate land for development projects. “One should voluntarily donate land for roads as it opens new vistas of development and the government will provide adequate compensation to those seeking monetary relief,” he said. He said a double-lane bridge would be constructed near Samoli connecting the Mehandali bypass, adding that the Rohru- Dhamwari road along with Jangla valley roads would be widened and metalled.

He said a parallel road would also be constructed to connect the bus stand by constructing a bridge over the Shikhri river.

He said Government Senior Secondary School buildings at Masli and Bhaloon Kainchi were being expanded with additional blocks, besides construction of a PWD rest house at Dodra. The Chief Minister said the government had opened as many as 94 colleges in the state.

He said Government Senior Secondary School for Girls, Rohru, would be made a model school with hostel facilities.

He said the government was planning to channelise the Andhra river in Chirgaon Bazaar to protect it from floods.

He said an amount of Rs 50 lakh had been released for the construction of the bus stand at Chirgaon and if required more funds would be provided for its completion.

The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of 22 kv sub-station at Kansakoti in Rohru to be constructed at a cost of Rs 2.16 crore. This will solve low-voltage problem along with transmission and distribution losses.