Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu intervened on Saturday to ensure that a 70-year-old villager requiring immediate specialist medical treatment, was airlifted to a nearby hospital for the best care in Lahaul-Spiti district.
Expressing satisfaction over the progress of the work, the Governor said that after completion of this project not only the distance would be reduced but it will boost the tourism activities in the State adding to the economy as well.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to say that Lahaul is very beautiful but it is tough to come here and leaving the place is equally a daunting task.
HP state Congress chief Kuldeep Singh Rathore on Monday had accused BJP of trying to distort history of Atal Tunnel by removing the foundation stone that was laid by the former UPA government, bearing names of Sonia Gandhi, Dhumal and Virbhadra Singh.
Kuldeep Singh Rathore rakes up the issue of missing foundation stone that was laid by then UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi at Atal Tunnel on 28 June 2010. Demanding that it should be restored within 15 days, he says otherwise the Congress will be forced to hold statewide protests against such 'illegal and undemocratic' move
“They compromised on security concerns of the country, whether it was about procurement of modern fighter planes, procurement of ammunition, modern rifles, bulletproof jackets, winter equipment or anything else,” he added.
Nevertheless, it is an important achievement as it will reduce the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 km during a major part of the year and will cut down driving time between Lahaul and Spiti valleys from five or six hours to about 30 minutes.
'It has several salient features and will further ‘Ease of Living’ for local citizens. Will also join public programmes in Sissu in Lahaul Spiti and at Solang Valley,' PM said.
The tribals of Lahaul valley, which is snowbound during the winter months, are enthused as Atal Tunnel at Rohtang will give them all-weather connectivity to outside world.
A Kargil hero, Brigadier (retd) Khushal Thakur, who is currently Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the Himachal Pradesh Ex-Servicemen Corporation, on Tuesday said the Atal tunnel at Rohtang is significant not only for all-weather civilian movement, but also holds military and strategic importance, especially in view of the current conflict scenario on the border.
