Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 25: The Border Roads Organization (BRO) has opened the Rohtang Pass well in advance keeping in view the situation that has arisen out of COVID-19 pandemic.
The BRO stated that on April 25 Dr Ram Lal Markanda, Minister for Agriculture and Tribal Development led the first convoy of vehicles carrying essential supplies and at least 150 farmers to Lahaul Valley guided by BRO thus officially opening the Rohtang Pass this year.
BRO said that the news of Rohtang Pass being opened for traffic three weeks in advance as compared to previous year has brought relief amongst the local population.
It will facilitate the Centre and State Governments to bring much needed relief material and medical supplies for the local population.
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Also, the agriculture activities which are the backbone of the district can now recommence. Dr Markanda conveyed his gratitude to Lt Gen Harpal Singh and applauded the tremendous efforts put in by Project Deepak. Once again Border Roads Organisation has lived up to its motto “Shramen Sarvam Sadhyam”.
It said that on 11th Apr Dr Markanda, and Secretary Food and Civil Supplies of Himachal Pradesh approached Lt Gen Harpal Singh, DG Border Roads to expedite the snow clearance to facilitate return of farmers to start cultivation and movement of essential supplies & relief material to Lahaul Valley in wake of COVID-19.
The BRO, it said, then, inducted Hi-Tech machinery from both Manali and Khoksar side. Snow blizzards, freezing temperatures and frequent triggering of avalanches at Rahala Fall, Beas Nallah and Rani Nallah did delay the operations but the snow clearance teams kept on working relentlessly day and night with all COVID-19 precautions to provide relief to the residents of Lahaul valley.
The on-going work on the 8.8 Km long Atal Tunnel below the Rohtang Pass was also stalled when the lockdown came into force. Since the construction of tunnel is at a critical stage, proactive measures were taken to recommence the work in active coordination with the State Govt.
To augment the Governments efforts against COVID-19 all personnel of Border Roads Organisation have collectively contributed one crore to the PM CARES Fund over and above One Day Salary, BRO said.
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