Restoration of irrigation canals sought

Mandi, November 23

Residents of Bandrol and its nearby places in Kullu district are demanding the restoration of irrigation canals and the local path, which were damaged during the four-laning of the Chandigarh-Manali highway by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Residents rued that in the absence of the irrigation facility, the agricultural and horticulture sectors had been badly affected. The most affected areas included Bandrol, Jindor and Biyasar.

Dolma Negi, a resident of Bandrol, said the NHAI had assured them of restoring the damaged canals and the local path, nothing had been done so far. 

Pradeep Thakur, another resident, said recently, a protest was organised near Bandrol to raise the issue with the NHAI and the district administration. The protesters had given a one-month ultimatum to address the issue, failing which they would hold a ‘chakka jam’ on the Chandigarh-Manali highway, near Bandrol. — TNS