Cracks in houses, Bhakra village ‘sinking’

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, August 20

Bhakra village, a part of Bilaspur district of Himachal, on whose land Bhakra Dam has been built, is facing consistent landslides. Massive landslides have virtually cut off the village.

Prabhat Chandel, pradhan of the village, while talking to The Tribune, said that the people of village are dependent on Nangal town of Punjab for basic amenities. However, now the landslides have blocked the road from Bhakra to Naina Devi. The entire village was in fact sinking and many houses have developed cracks, he said.

Bhakra villagers sacrificed their lands for construction of Bhakra Dam that ushered in green revolution in North India, but it is a picture of neglect as it lacks basic facilities for education and health. Now the village is fighting for its existence as the entire hill on which it was located is sliding.

The village now has a population of 1,761. The pradhan of the village said that they have requested the government to allot them land somewhere else as it dangerous to live on a sliding hill.

The pradhan said that village despite having contributed so much towards the construction of Bhakra Dam is bereft of basic facilities. There was just a primary health centre in the village which has just one doctor that caters to about 10 villages in the area. There is a government school but for higher education the children have to travel at least about 40 km to Bhatoli college in Una or Nangal an adjoining town of Punjab.“The BBMB should have adopted Bhakra village in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). However, besides the present chairman of BBMB, DK Sharma, who has given a few lakhs to Bhakra village for streetlights and upgrading desks in government school, nobody has done anything for us,” Prabhat Chandel said.

Vijay Sharma, pradhan of Trisuh village and former BDC member, said that the biggest problem the villages of Bhakra oustees are facing is that they have been locked in their own lands. The main road linking the villages of Bhakra oustees has three barriers one of Punjab police and two of Himachal police. Entry to Bhakra Dam road is restricted after 4 pm. Any relative or friend wanting to reach villagers after 4 pm has to face harassment at the hands of police officials. Many relatives have stopped visiting us due to this harassment, he said. Vijay Sharma said that the government can secure the Bhakra Dam structure by raising walls along the road. However, the people should be allowed to use the road freely. In case the government thinks that the main road leading to the Bhakra Dam cannot be used by locals, than an alternative road should be developed for the Bhakra oustees.

Harjit Singh, another resident of Golthai area on the fringes of Bhakra Dam, said the Himachal government had developed an industrial area in the region. However, due to harassment at the police barriers, most industrial units have fled the area. The BBMB had earlier installed street lights on road leading from Punjab border to Bhakra Dam. However, now streetlights have been disconnected. The BBMB can atleast provide streetlights on the road leading to Bhakra Dam, he said.

Villagers’ tale of woes

• Bhakra village sacrificed their lands for construction of Bhakra Dam that ushered in green revolution in North India, but it presents a picture of neglect as it lacks basic facilities. 
• Vijay Sharma, pradhan of Trisuh village, said the Bhakra oustees have been locked in their own lands. 
• The main road linking the villages of Bhakra oustees has three barriers one of Punjab police and two of Himachal police. 
• Entry to the Bhakra Dam road is restricted after 4 pm. Hence, relatives have stopped visiting the village, he said.