The Himachal Government is undertaking the restoration of roads in tribal district lahaul & Spiti on war footing. These roads remain cut off from the rest of the State due to heavy snowfall during winter, said an official spokesman.
The main roads of the district including Tandi-Keylong-Darcha, Samdo-Kaza-Gramphu and Koksar-Rohtang were closed for traffic due to heavy snowfall. The restoration work of these roads was responsibility of Border Road Organization (BRO) and the district administration was conducting meetings with the officers of BRO and GREF on regular basis, he said.
He said as per the fresh report of the BRO, Manali-leh road had been restored from Manali to Gulaba whereas the snow had been completely removed from Sisu to Jispa and Darcha. Due to recent spell of snow, one kilometer road length between Tandi and Dalang was damaged heavily which had been restored but it delayed opening of road between Sisu to Koksar. likewise, Udaipur road was already restored and the snow had been removed from Udaipur to Tindi road and had been reopened for traffic.
The spokesperson said that as per the report of the officers of BRO, adequate manpower and machinery had been made available at Manali, Koksar, Tandi, Udaipur and Stingri stations to restore the roads in the district. They have reported that the work on opening Rohtang pass from Koksar side would be started by the end of March, however, it would depend on the weather conditions. He said that the work on restoration of roads to remotest habitations of lahaul valley had almost been completed. However, due to untimely snowfall and extreme conditions of low temperature these roads often gets blocked but were restored immediately to facilitate the people.
The restoration work on the roads under the control of Public Works Department was also under progress on war footing. The Department had reported that although there was still more than six feet snow on the roads 50 per cent roads have been cleared. The Department was also working on priority to reopen the Mayad valley, said the spokesman.
He said that state government was committed to redress the problems of the people of valley and the district administration had been directed to restore roads and make available all basic amenities.