Denied business, locals block Manali-Leh road at Solang

Our Correspondent

KULLU, DECEMBER 16

Vendors and tourism stakeholders of Manali and its suburbs blocked the Manali-Leh national highway for over two hours at Solang Nullah for allegedly being denied commercial activities between the nullah and Dhundi today.

Around 2,000 protesters assembled at Solang and blocked the road leading to 4-km traffic jam to Kulang. The 12-km stretch between Solang and south portal of Atal Tunnel at Dhundi has been declared a tow-away zone, but locals had started tourism activities, forcing the police to challan the offenders. They alleged that the police harassed the locals.

Palchan BDC member Reshma Thakur and Buruwa panchayat president Chudamani Thakur said the locals should be allowed to run business in tourist places in an orderly manner.

Some local businessmen said if people of Lahaul and Spiti could do business here, they should also be allowed to carry out activities in the Lahaul valley.

Education Minister Govind Thakur reached the spot and listened to their demands. The protesters claimed that they were not being allowed to go up to Dhundi, while tourists were being allowed to cross the tunnel. The minister pacified the people and assured them that the administration would not harm the businessmen. He also urged the locals to cooperate with the administration.

He said a meeting of the local businessmen would be held with the administration within three days and the issues would be resolved. It was not a big issue but there was a misunderstanding between the administration and the people which had been cleared and the protesters removed the blockade after the assurance by the minister.

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