In the aftermath of Kinnaur devastation, which took a heavy toll on life and property in which several crucial roads links were damaged, Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to develop the strategic and traditional roads, including Old Hindustan-Tibet road.
The incessant rains and flash floods had wrecked havoc in Tibet bordering Kinnaur district since June 15 to 17 and cutting the entire district from the state for over a week, in which over 2,000 people were stranded including around 1,000 tourists.
The Old Hindustan-Tibet road was witnessing government apathy after new NH-22 was constructed and was badly destroyed in the flash floods. NH-22 was blocked in over 70 places due to landslides.
Damages assessed by state government revealed that between Wangtu to Pooh many breaches had occurred on National Highway-22, especially between Wangtu and Powari. landslides of approximately seven kilometers of road length occurred in Kasang and Akpa and about 30 numbers of breaches of approximately 1.5 km has damaged the roads.
However, what came to the notice of the state government was the fact that traditional roads, including Old Hindustan-Tibet road were slightly or hardly damaged. Chief Minister Virbahdra Singh on Tuesday said that State Government is taking up the matter with central government to re-build the necessary infrastructure.
“We will be developing the Old Hindustan-Tibet road as all weather road and other strategic traditional roads, so that there is no land lock situation in future,” said Singh. Senior Government officials also confirmed that serious look is being made on strategic traditional roads keeping in mind infrastructure build-up in Tibet region by China.
Old Hindustan-Tibet road built by Britishers in 19th century to connect with Tibet for trade relations through Shipki-la was built so scientifically, that it was hardly destroyed in flash floods or incessant rains.
“It has been built in such a way that there are minimum chances of landslides and we need to develop it as the road has been neglected all these years,” said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.