Tribune News Service
Lalit Mohan
Dharamsala 27 February
Union Ministry of Environment and Forest granted permission to divert forestland in Bharmour to construct the road linking Uttrala of Kangra with Holi of Chamba. The government has granted permission to use 9 ha forestland in the construction of the road.
The distance between Kangra, Holi-Bharmour and Kangra will be reduced by approximately 200 km to 70km after the construction. The road will pass through Jalsu Jot at 3,400m.
Sources claim that Rs 18 crore was sanctioned by state government for construction of the road. The state PWD has applied for funds from NABARD for the Rs 70 crore that is still required to complete the road.
The road will make it possible to visit Holi and Bharmour tribes. To reach Bharmour or Holi, one must travel 200km from Kangra. Kangra has an air connection and once the road is completed, people will be able to access Bharmour and Holi easily, said Ajay, who is associated in the Dharamsala tourism sector.
Suresh Kumar, who organizes trekking trips in Kangra said that it would open up many trekking routes in both the Dhauladhars ranges and the Pirpanjal ranges.
During the previous Congress, a tunnel was built to link Holi and Uttrala in Kangra.
To determine the feasibility of the tunnel, a geological survey was also done. The lack of viability meant that the project did not become a reality.
Now that the project has been completed, it could boost the economy in the Holi and Bharmour areas.
Bharmour has many centuries-old temples including the Chaurasi temples. Authorities expect to see an increase in religious tourism once the road connectivity is improved. Bharmour apples can also have easy access to the plains markets via the road.
#Environment