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Tunnel set to open despite defects
New Bathu Bridge in 1 month
Continued rains trigger more landslides
Dhalli-SADA merger with MC approved
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Dullo’s son gets bail
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Tunnel set to open despite defects
Kulu, August 5 The traffic tunnel was a part of the 126 MW Larji hydroelectric project being constructed by the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board. There was no vertical ventilator shaft in the first phase, which was only 797 metres, causing acute suffocation inside the tunnel. The exhaust release of vehicles and dust particles raised caused many serious medical problems to users during the past six years. The problem of suffocation in the first phase which was only 797 metres was pointed out in the District Grievances Committee meetings and the HPSEB had been advised to provide required ventilation. Mr Arun Sharma, Chief Engineer, Larji Project, said the board had kept one adit in the first phase which helped in exhaust of smoke. In the second phase two 2.5 metre diameter inclined ventilation shafts of 104 metre height have been provided to force out exhaust fumes and dust particles from the tunnel. He further told that sodium vapour lamps had been provided for sufficient visibility inside the tunnel as per requirement norms of MORTH. Four 15-metre long and 4 metre wide parking laybies on both sides of the tunnel in a staggered manner have also been provided for parking of breakdown vehicles. Though sodium vapour lamps provided sufficient light inside the tunnel, the monthly cost of using these lamps comes to Rs 60,000. The HPSEB authorities said they would hand over the portion to the National Highway division and the cost of the electricity would be borne by the NH authorities. On the other hand, the Executive Engineer of the National Highway division said they had not received any instruction from the Ministry of Surface Transport as yet. The tug-of-war for maintenance of the tunnel portion of the National Highway might lead to great inconvenience to the people, if not sorted out in time.
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New Bathu Bridge in 1 month
Kangra, August 5 Deputy Commissioner Bharat Khera said the Executive Engineer, NH88, has said a detailed drawing is being prepared for the construction of the new bridge for which Rs 4 crore have been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Surface Transport. A spokesman said the Executive Engineer has been directed to take necessary action for the construction of the new bridge. The 86-year-old Bathu Bridge, which is the lifeline of the Kangra valley connecting it with rest of the state and Punjab near Ranital, 14 km from here, collapsed yesterday following the incessant rains. Meanwhile the travel for the people to Ranital and onwards has increased by 33 km via Lunj and 27 km via Badoh. All HRTC buses coming and going to Kangra via Ranital have adopted the route of Gaggal-Tiara-Lunj and Ranital and the authorities are charging Rs 20 additionally. An HRTC driver said that it takes us nearly two hours to reach Ranital via Lunj being a link road, as this small road has got flooded with vehicles. The incessant rains have also added to the agony of the passengers on both link roads. Mr. B.L. Sharma, General Secretary, Senior Citizens Forum, said it was a folly of the government. which ignored this vital bridge despite hue and cry raised by the media. He said the state government ignored this bridge despite the fact that it had lived its life. BABA BAROH (Palampur): Supplies of LPG, milk, bread and kerosene could not reach the Palampur region today after the collapse of the bridge. Dozen of trucks carrying LPG to Palampur, Baijnath, Nagrota Bagwan, Panchrukhi and Paproala have got stranded near Ranital. Over 200 vehicles carrying hundreds of passengers remained stranded for the night at Baroh.
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Continued rains trigger more landslides
Mandi, August 5 Reports reaching this divisional headquarters here today revealed that the long spell of rains that have been lashing Udaipur subdivision since yesterday had triggered the flashflood, washing away the foot bridge at Challing and Udgog villages. In Kulu district the rains triggered a big landslide at Khanaag near Jalori Jot, blocking the Kulu-Jalori -Ani and Baghipul road. The HRTC has plied two buses each from both sides till the blockade. The PWD engineers claimed that they had pressed its workers into service to clear the blockade on the Jalori road. But the passengers who reached Mandi said they did not see any worker there. “It would take more than four days before it is restored for traffic,” said the PWD engineers, blaming the delay on the rains. Even the Udaipur-Killar road, the only link to the Pangi valley in Chamba district from Lahaul-Spiti and Kulu districts has been blocked due to landslides at a few places beyond Udaipur along the Chenab, reports said. “Four foreigner tourists came back from Udaipur today as the Killar road has been blocked due to the landslides,” said Mr Vishal Thakur, a hotelier at Sissu village in Lahaul valley. The Koksar-Kunjum-Kaza road was restored to the traffic today. The traffic remained stranded at Gulaba, about 30 km from Manali, for four hours due to muddy slippery condition on the road. Traffic on the Kamand link road from Katola in Drang block in Mandi district remained blocked due to a landslide near Neri as the HRTC and private vehicles remained stranded on that road till evening, revealed sources. The Chief Engineer, PWD, Mr D.P. Sharma, said they have not received reports of road blockades so far as these roads are located in the interior areas of Lahaul and Kulu districts. Reckong Peo: The District Magistrate of Lahaul and Spiti, Mr R. Selvam told The Tribune that the Spiti valley had been cut-off by road and telecommunication links, besides, total power failure in this part of the cold desert. There have been reports of some damage to the Rongtong power house, which supplies power to the whole of Spiti valley. He said a bridge situated on the main road linking Kinnaur and Spiti valley near Tabo had been washed away in a flashflood in Tabo nullah, triggered by a cloudburst. There had also been reports of fresh landslides on this road at a few points beyond Tabo. Meanwhile, the General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF) has temporally removed all blockades on the Hindustan-Tibet road within the limits of Kinnaur, while the road link connecting Kinnaur and Spiti valley beyond Tabo was still blocked. Col M.L. Kom, Officer Commanding of the 68 RCC of the GREF, today claimed that his engineers and work force had repaired all blockades on the Hindustan-Tibet road within the limits of Kinnaur. Malling nullah had also been opened to traffic, he said. Meanwhile, the water level in Sutlej at Powari has receded by 1 foot today. However, intermittent rains and snowfall on higher reaches still continued throughout
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Dhalli-SADA merger with MC approved
Shimla, August 5 The cabinet decided that the merged areas would get total exemption from municipal taxes for two years. All charges, including that of water, will be the same as are being charged in the municipal areas. The cabinet decided that the funds that the state would get from the centre under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission would be utilised for the development of the merged areas and for improving facilities. It also decided that a high-level team will hold a meeting with officials from Rajasthan at New Delhi on August 7 to resolve the pending issues of Pong Dam
oustees.The cabinet approved 100 per cent enhancement in tribal allowance, raising it from Rs 100 to Rs 200. The Himachal Pradesh Rural Employment Guarantee scheme-2006 was also approved. The cabinet gave its nod for the creation of a special economic zone in Kangra and Una and approved amendment to the Journalists Welfare Fund scheme 2002. Approval was also granted for the creation of 59 posts in the Education, Home, Printing and Stationery, Health and Family Welfare and Town and Country Planning departments.
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Dullo’s son gets bail
Shimla, August 5 The youths allegedly misbehaved with a girl and fired into the air when a mob gathered outside the college. Later, they sped off in their Honda City, only to be intercepted at Dharampur by the Solan police and brought to Shimla after a wireless message was flashed about the youths and their vehicle number. Meanwhile, police sources said the complainant, Gaurav Kuthiala, fiance of one of the girls, was keen to withdraw the complaint against the four. However, police officials said it was not possible to withdraw the case at this stage and the matter was likely to go to court. In a joint statement, the state BJP chief, Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, and former Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal said sons of Congress leaders were often involved in these kind of cases but due to political pressure they were let off. “Strict action should be taken against the accused as they have tried to create terror in a peaceful state like Himachal and it should be inquired as to why were they let off after they had been arrested,” they said.
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