‘Centre’s financial aid will help resolve water problems’

Dr Rajiv Saizal is a two-term MLA representing the Kasauli constituency and he also holds the portfolio of Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment. He shares his vision with the Himachal Tribune on how to resolve the long-standing problems of the Kasauli Planning Area (KPA), the majority of which have found place in his MLA priority list.  Excerpts from his interview:

How do you propose to resolve the issue of traffic influx on roads leading to Kasauli, as no expansion of roads has taken place for decades now?

There are some major bottlenecks like the Garkhal junction where five roads converge. Expansion of roads is not the apt solution and efforts are afoot to explore bypass roads where traffic can be diverted. Several such roads like the Kanda Road and the Jangeshu Road can be strengthened to divert traffic leading to Kasauli.  The key Kimmughat-Chakki-Ka Road, which will connect the KPA to National Highway-22, is in an advanced stage of construction and this will provide a convenient bypass to commuters travelling to Kasauli.

Kasauli and its surrounding areas face a dire shortage of water, which aggravates in the peak summer. How do you propose to solve the problem?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has granted a liberal financial package of Rs 800 crore to remodel drinking water schemes in the state, laid before 2000. I will request the Chief Minister to include water schemes from the KPA under this criterion and this will help augment the existing water supply. Besides, the detailed project report of Kalujhinda Lift Water Scheme worth Rs 23.22 crore has been prepared and I will pursue its funding up to the highest level, as this will provide a sustainable source of water in the Kasauli area.

Do you think the Kasauli Planning Area needs more hotels especially since the existing hotels do not have occupancy of more than 60 per cent?

I feel tourism is not just about spending a day in the cool climes of Kasauli; rather we should focus on creating adventure sport-related activities like creating trekking routes, including the famous Khushwant Singh nature trail, which can prolong a tourist’s visit to Kasauli and also publicise them at the national and even international levels. Creation of small eating points where hygienic food is served can help develop Kasauli as a hub of quality tourism.

What steps should be taken to preserve the area’s environment, given the fragile ecology of the Kasauli area in the light of indiscriminate commercialisation?

The possibility of limiting the traffic to a certain point should be explored and the tourists can be taken in golf carts or battery-driven vehicles to the town as this will help preserve the area’s environment and can also ease the traffic congestion plaguing the roads.

How do you propose to address the problem of unemployment among the local youth, as the area is bereft of any industrial venture?

Tourism offers immense scope to address the problem of unemployment and the state government has already initiated a move to train guides who can accompany tourists. Besides this initiative, these guides can set up small eateries where quality food can be made available to the tourists and this can further promote tourism and employment in the area. Though the area has immense potential to enhance the tourism influx, creation of adventure-tourism ventures like rock climbing and rappelling by involving the local youth can help address the problem of unemployment, as the majority of the youth are educated.

 —Ambika Sharma