Rohtang tunnel issue to be taken up with PM
Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 5
The Himachal government will take up the issue for expeditious
construction of the Rs 1,355-crore Rohtang tunnel with Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh to provide an all-weather link to the landlocked
Lahaul valley at the earliest.

This was sated by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh while addressing a
public meeting at Sissu in Lahaul subdivision on the first day of his
two-day visit to the valley today. He said Indira Gandhi, on her
visit to the Lahaul valley, had acceded to the request of local
people to construct a motorable tunnel below the Rohtang Pass. He
said tribal development was a priority with the government and added
attention was being paid to it.

He said his government had carved out a separate tribal sub-plan by
earmarking funds for the development of tribal areas.

He said it had ensured speedy and focused development of these areas
to bring them on a par with the rest of the state. He said despite
limited working season, rapid strides had been made in the
development in these areas.