Villagers consulted for Sansari-Killar- Tandi road widening project in Lahaul

The state government has initiated a series of public consultations in the villages of the Lahaul valley and the Pangi valley that will be affected by the 140-km Sansari-Killar-Thirot-Tandi road improvement and widening project in Lahaul and Spiti district. The aim of the consultations is to integrate local concerns into draft rehabilitation and resettlement plans prepared under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, and the Himachal Pradesh Rules, 2015.

Two major public hearings were held -- one at the Forest Rest House at Jahalma for the residents of Jahalma, Junda, Mooring and Thirot villages in Udaipur subdivision, and another at the Jal Shakti Rest House, Kiriting, for the affected people of Ranika, Shansha and Goharma panchayats in Keylong subdivision.

At Jahalma, the SDM (Civil), Udaipur, Alisha Chauhan chaired the session. The representatives of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), local departments, panchayat heads and a large number of villagers participated in it.

The villagers raised concern over the impact of construction on traditional irrigation channels (kulhs), natural water sources and agricultural accessibility. They emphasised the need for protecting water flow to fields and maintaining alternative irrigation if disruptions occur. BRO officials said that ''kulhs'' would be preserved during construction work and alternative arrangements would be explored, wherever needed.

Concerns were also raised about landslides, soil erosion and threat to residential areas. Locals said that the recent rain disaster had shown increasing vulnerability of the regions where road construction had taken place without adequate slope protection. The BRO and the administration assured the locals of a joint inspection of sensitive locations and timely construction of retaining walls and protective structures.

The issue of land compensation and circle rates was also highlighted. Villagers demanded that the circle rates be determined based on Keylong benchmarks, to which the administration stated that such a proposal had already been submitted to the state government.

Similarly, at Kiriting, the SDM, Keylong, Kalyani Tiwari, chaired the consultation. Villagers reiterated concern about irrigation, dust and debris management and agricultural land damage. The BRO said that debris would only be dumped at designated sites and dust suppression methods would be followed.

Tiwari said that though a 24-metre wide acquisition corridor had been proposed, actual construction would be limited to 10 metres wherever possible to minimise land loss. On the matter of low compensation for trees and limited land ownership in some areas, the affected villagers were advised to submit individual applications and pass resolutions in gram sabhas for further consideration.

The residents also requested for the reconstruction of cut-off link roads and the BRO promised to restore them on priority. A joint team comprising officials of the BRO, revenue, horticulture, agriculture and other departments would soon conduct on-site inspections in high-impact zones, the dates of which would be notified shortly.

The public hearings concluded with assurances of transparent decision-making, minimal displacement, and protection of traditional livelihoods, ensuring the voices of the affected communities were incorporated before a road project was finalised.