Linking Pangi with rest of the world

Completely isolated from rest of the world, Pangi was once used as a place of banishment for criminals and political offenders. But now things are fast changing in the area, thanks to the Project Deepak of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) which has constructed a 100-km-long road in a very difficult terrain to link Pangi with the rest of the world, says S.P. Sharma

COMPLETELY isolated from rest of the world, the Pangi range in Chamba district was considered so formidable during the princely regime that every state official proceeding there on duty was granted a special "funeral allowance" as his return was not taken to be a matter of certainty.

It was because of the same reason that Pangi was formerly used as a place of banishment for criminals and political offenders.

But now things are fast changing in the area, thanks to the Project Deepak of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) which has constructed over a 100-km-long road in a very difficult terrain to link Pangi with the rest of the world.

This has gradually changed the lifestyle in the Pangi valley where pucca houses are now coming up and the literacy rate has shown an upward trend.

So far the people of the area had remained backward and were cut off from the high passes of Sach, Chaini, Kalicho and Chopia. The Chandrabhaga (Chenab) river flowing into the valley from Lahaul-Spiti runs through its whole length.

With construction of the Sansari-Killar-Thirot (SKT) road, tourism is beginning to pick up in the area. Earlier, one had to undertake a hazardous trek from Chamba, crossing several passes, to reach Killar.

Having had a feel of the outside world, Chailo Devi, an elected functionary of the local panchayat, has been demanding a fair deal for women of this inaccessible tribal area. She has always been in the forefront, highlighting the problems of the women folk of the area whenever some dignitary visits Pangi. She pointed out that there was no lady doctor in the local hospital.

The HRTC has started operating buses up to a point near Killar during the summers. But until recently there was only one jeep plying in the valley. The jeep was carried there using a helicopter in 1987 as there was no road linking the area with rest of the state. Occasional helicopter flights during the winters were the only means for residents of the area to reach Pathankot or Kulu. Residents of the remote villages of the Mayer valley had so far not seen even a bus.

According to Brig B.M. Bakshi, chief engineer of the Project Deepak, the SKT road has brought a remarkable improvement in the literacy rate of the area and Ghoshal village now had 100 per cent literacy. Work on the road is in progress, which will fulfil double-lane specifications of a national highway.

The work on the SKT road had started in 1978. Pangi will soon be linked with the Kishtwar area of Jammu and Kashmir, making it possible for farmers to export their produce of peas, potato, hops and other crops.

Brigadier Bakshi says the SKT road has improved the economy of the area, stopped the migration of the locals to Kulu, Mandi and Chamba in search of jobs and has also given a boost to tourism.

According to Subhash Negi, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Tribal Development, the rate of literacy in Pangi has gone up from a mere 7.94 per cent in 1961 to 39.39 per cent in 1991. Against only 27 primary schools in the 1601 sq km area of the Pangi valley in 1974, there are 59 primary schools now. Besides there, 11 middle schools, five high schools and two senior secondary schools have also been opened.

He says the absence of roads in the past had been the main hurdle in development of the area. In 1978-79, there was only 31 km of road on which a jeep could ply in the valley and now there was a 68-km-long double lane, 65-km-long single lane and 5 km of road on which jeep could be driven.