Damaged in floods, roads in Tirthan valley not yet repaired

Residents of the Tirthan valley in Kullu district allege that many local roads, bridges and pathways, which were damaged in devastating flashfloods in July last year, are yet to be repaired and restored. They pose a serious threat to the lives of local residents and travellers.

Mohinder Singh, a resident of the Tirthan valley, says that the main Banjar-Bathad road was severely damaged last year, particularly near Badiropa, where nearly half of its stretch had collapsed. He fears a serious threat of fatal accidents as a large number of vehicles ply on this precarious route every day.

Link to 8 gram panchayats in shambles

• Though the state government has pledged to repair the damaged roads and improve the infrastructure, the Banjar-Bathad road that links eight gram panchayats of the Tirthan valley to the tehsil headquarters is in a shambles.
• The work to rebuild key pedestrian bridges like those at Gehidhara and Mugla is yet to commence.

He says that they have apprised the authorities concerned about the situation but the damaged infrastructure has not been repaired. The condition of the pedestrian bridges in the valley and the retaining walls on this road that were damaged in flashfloods has deteriorated.

Though the state government has pledged to repair the damaged roads and improve the infrastructure, the Banjar-Bathad road that links eight gram panchayats of the Tirthan valley to the tehsil headquarters is in a shambles. The work to rebuild key pedestrian bridges like those at Gehidhara and Mugla is yet to commence.

Jeet Ram, another resident, says that there is an urgent need to ensure proper maintenance of damaged roads in the Tirthan valley. This valley is a tourist place and the poor condition of roads is adversely impacting the tourism industry.

“Community members have set up makeshift bridges at a few places to maintain access but these structures are unstable and hazardous,” he adds.

Chaman Singh Thakur, Executive Engineer (XEN), Public Works Department (PWD) at Banjar in Kullu, says that the department is considering the issue. Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the department will repair and maintain the road at the earliest, he adds.