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| Tunnel to have all weather link to land of Lamas | | | The dream of having an all weather link between Manali(Himachal) and Ladakh(J&K) is likely to materialise when the work on the construction of an 8.80 km long Rohtang tunnel will begin from next month.In fact the foundation stone of the project had been laid by the then Prime Minister,Atal Behari Vajpayee in 2002.The work could not be taken in hand for all these eight years piossibly because of paucity of resources as the cost of the project is estimated to be over Rs.1450 crores against Rs.1200 crores estimated in 2002.Yes,people in the strategic Ladakh region used to remain cut off for over six months as the only road link between Srinagar and Leh and Srinagar and Kargil would get blocked owing to heavy snow on Sonamarg-Zojilla route.If the work on the project was started next month the tunnel is expected to be completed in 2015.Reports indicate that the only reason that had motivated the central Government to start work on the project has been the
growing activities of the Chinese on the other side of the border.The Chinese have been able to build all weather road links from Beijing to Aksai Chin,close to Leh.Reports say that even during
heavy snow the Chinese can move military hardware,war machinery and the troops to the remotest stretch of the border kissing Ladakh.Against this India has not been in a position to develop a road link between Srinagar and Leh or between Manali and Leh with the result the entire Ladakh remains cut off for over six months.Invariably it has been seen that even the flights from Srinagar to Leh during the winter season get suspended or delayed for days together.This way during any emergency India may not be able to send additional companies of troops and ammunition to the Ladakh region during the winter months.It has remained a century old practice to send essential commodities,including foodgrains,kerosene,diesel and petrol besides other eatables and medicines to Ladakh between June and October.During these five months scores of trucks leave Srinagar for Kargil and Leh everyday carrying various consumer items for the people in the region.Even for the
troops guarding the LOC and the LAC all essential items are sent between June and October.For these five months both the civilian administration and the Army authorities remain engaged in building buffer stocks of all the items that are needed by the civilians and the troops during the winter months.Apart from the Chinese threat the delay in the settlement of the Siachen mountain glacier,situated in Ladakh, with Pakistan has imposed added responsibility on the shoulders of the central Government to build an all weather road link to Leh.Both China and Pakistan have demonstrated their extra-territorial ambition in Ladakh.While China eyes border segments in Leh district Pakistan has been claiming ownership of the entire 19000 ft high 64 km long Siachen mountain glacier.During the last 26 years India has spent sereval thousand crores of rupees on supplies and maintaining troops on the glacier.Besides this several hundred soldiers lost their lives and
a large number of them were crippled because of weather related problems.This way India cannot afford to lag in development of road links to Ladakh.In addition to this if the Rohtang tunnel ensures an all weather link to Ladakh the region can expect a major transformation in its economy.People in Ladakh can export a large number of delicious items,including appricot,vegetables and dry fruits besides handwoven shawls.People can import fruit,butter,foodgrains,salt,tea
spices,medicines,cloth and garments.The Rohtag tunnel will ultimately help people in Ladakh to come out of six month long isolation and deprivation.They can move to any part of the country and pick up habits and ideas that are needed to develop the Buddhist society in the land of Lamas.Above all the tunnel will promote tourism to Ladakh
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