Himahal CM Virbhadra Singh stressed that the tourist season has already started and any inconvenience to the tourists could be detrimental for the economy of Himachal Pradesh. Also, he directed the Deputy Commissioners of Kulu, Mandi and Bilaspur to put an end to the alleged connivance between the caucus of contractors and PWD and NHAI officials who had been filling up the big potholes with mud instead of pebbles and grit on the national highway between Kiratpur and Mannali in the last few months at the cost of State exchequer.
Singh lamented that the potholes reappeared with the onslaught of the first rain and the crores went into the repair again. The guilty persons should be dealt with an iron hand, he has advised the district authorities. Moreover, Himachal is the only choice left for tourists coming from across India as the J&K has been devastated by floods and panic generated by terrorists and separatists from across the Pakistan border.