State mulls linking Chamba to Lahaul Spiti: Forest Minister

Our Correspondent

Bharmour, June 7

The state government is contemplating linking Chamba district with Lahaul Spiti directly through a shortcut route by constructing a road from the tribal Kugti village to Lahaul. This would enable journeys to and fro between Bharmour and Lahaul.

Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri stated this today while inaugurating a 30-m motorable bridge across the Dharol nullah to connect the Kugti village of Bharmour tribal subdivision of Chamba district.

He said the bridge was constructed at a cost of Rs 1.30 crore.

The work on construction of the motorable road up to Kugti village would be expedited. Efforts would be made to set up a mini hydropower project on the Dharol nullah to mitigate the electricity problem of the village forever, he said.

To provide comfortable stay to pilgrims, tourists and trekkers at the interior Kugti village, a sarai bhawan would be constructed, the forest minister stated. Bharmouri directed PWD officials to complete the construction work of the Hadsar-Chobia road before the commencement of the Manimahesh pilgrimage. He also ordered them to complete the under-construction bridge over the Serkaon nullah speedily so that it could be opened for one-way traffic, thereby solving the traffic problem. Bharmouri also directed the PWD officials to improve the identified ‘black spots’ on various roads in the tribal areas. He asked them to remove debris on the Chamba-Bharmour-Hadsar highway for the safety of commuters of smooth vehicular traffic movement. While greeting the forest minister, Kugti panchayat pradhan Reena Kumari presented certain demands of the tribal village.

Bharmouri assured her to provide bus service up to Kugti village soon.