Lahaul: The construction of the Atal Tunnel has brought relief to the people of Lahaul Valley. Now, despite snowfall, the Lahaul Valley will be connected to the world throughout the year. The construction of Atal Tunnel has facilitated the people of Lahaul, but the people of Spiti will still remain disconnected from the rest of the world during the winter season. The Kunjam Pass connects Lahaul and Spiti. Kunjam Pass remains closed during the months of snowfall. In such a situation, a tunnel needs to be built on the Kunjam Pass too, so that the people residing in Spiti will be able to remain connected with the rest of the world even during the winter season.
In terms of area, Lahaul-Spiti is the largest district in Himachal. This district is completely covered with snow for six months of the year. Before the construction of Atal Tunnel, people here were living in difficult conditions. With six months of continuous snowfall, this tribal district used to be completely cut off from the rest of the world. In case of any emergency, people were brought to Kullu with the help of helicopters. But the facility of getting a helicopter was available only to the affluent. In such a situation, people here have been demanding a tunnel for a long time.
Historian Tsering Dorje says that after the construction of the Rohtang Tunnel, the distance to reach Ladakh was reduced only by 45 to 50 km. Even now one has to go through three passes on the way, of which Baralacha, Lachunola and Tanglak are prominent. Unless a tunnel is built on these passes, it will not be easy to reach Ladakh during winter.
READ: Atal Tunnel will help strengthen border infrastructure: PM Modi
In an exclusive conversation with ETV Bharat historian Tsering Dorje said that on one hand, the construction of the tunnel will make life easier for the people of Lahaul. At the same time, contact with the outside world can threaten the culture of Lahaul in the coming times.
However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that newly inaugurated Atal Tunnel beneath the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district would help give a fresh boost to India's border infrastructure.
Modi had inaugurated the 9.02km tunnel from its south portal near earlier this month. It will ensure all-weather connectivity from Manali to the Lahaul-Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh. Atal Tunnel, built by the Border Roads Organisation, is the longest highway tunnel in the world.
The Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had taken the decision to construct a strategic tunnel below the Rohtang Pass on June 3, 2000, and the foundation stone for the access road to the south portal of the tunnel was laid on May 26, 2002.
The Modi government decided to name the Rohtang Tunnel as Atal Tunnel in December 2019 to honour the former prime minister who had passed away the previous year.
With agency inputs
