Himachal CM announces Rs 10 crore for road connectivity to Bara Bhangal
Shimla, June 28
Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited the remote tribal region of Bara Bhangal in Kangra district to assess the damage caused by recent natural calamities, a release said.
He interacted with the local residents and listened to their concerns and grievances and directed the officers to ensure the timely redressal.
The Chief Minister inspected the flood-affected areas and reviewed the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Stressing on the need to expedite road connectivity to Bara Bhangal, he directed officials to invite separate tenders for each kilometre of the proposed road to accelerate construction, it added.
He also discussed the feasibility of transporting construction machinery by air and announced the release of Rs 10 crore for the construction of the Bara Bhangal road, it added.
To ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity, the Chief Minister held detailed discussions with local residents.
Assuring residents of an alternative power supply until road connectivity is established, he announced the provision of one diesel generator each for Upper Bara Bhangal and Lower Bara Bhangal.
He also discussed the possibility of reviving the flood-damaged hydropower project and exploring solar energy projects for the region.
Responding to the demand for mobile connectivity services, the Chief Minister assured residents that the government would engage with private telecom companies to commence mobile services in the area at the earliest.
He also directed the officers to identify suitable forest land for promoting tourism activities, especially eco-tourism, and reiterated the government's commitment to developing Bara Bhangal as a tourist destination.
To strengthen healthcare services in the remote region, the Chief Minister said local residents would be trained to provide primary healthcare support so that immediate medical assistance could be made available within the community.
Addressing a public gathering, the Chief Minister said he had come to Bara Bhangal not for any political gains, but to understand and share the hardships faced by the people of the area.
He remarked that if "politics had been his objective", he would have visited more densely populated areas. Instead, he said, his government's priority was to ensure that development reaches even the remotest corners of the state.
He added that while policies can be formulated in Shimla, "understanding the real challenges" faced by people requires visiting them on the ground, it added.
The Chief Minister assured residents that the government would declare Bara Bhangal a natural farming panchayat, make efforts to secure Scheduled Tribe status for the region and increase the foodgrain quota at the local ration depot. He also said the government would explore the construction of protection walls to safeguard the area against floods.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The idea of training locals for primary healthcare is excellent. Rural areas often struggle with even basic medical help. Electric generators for power, eco-tourism plans, and the focus on natural farming—this is a holistic approach. But implementation is key, and I hope all departments move fast.
Good to see the CM taking personal interest in remote areas. But why wasn't this done earlier? Separate tenders per kilometer is a smart move to speed things up, but I worry about corruption in such fragmented contracts. Still, it's a positive step. Hope they get ST status soon too.
The fact that he admitted visiting for "understanding challenges" rather than politics is refreshing. But talk is cheap—let's see if the roads are built and power is restored before winter. Also, mobile connectivity in 2024? That should have been sorted years ago. Better late than never.
Rs 10 crore for road in such tough terrain? That might not be enough given the mountain logistics. But the separate tenders idea could cut through bureaucracy. And solar energy + revival of hydropower is smart. Let's hope the diesel generators don't become a permanent solution.
The CM's visit is good, but this is politics as usual. Why only after natural calamities? Bara Bhangal has been neglected for decades. All these announcements sound promising, but we've heard such promises before. Show me the road built in 2 years, then I'll believe.
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