Amid lockdown, Himachal to run buses for Lahaul farmers
Shimla: In a decision, perhaps first of its kind amidst lockdown 2.0 orders, Himachal Pradesh has decided to give a major relief to nearly 2,500 farmers and their families from snow-bound Lahaul Spiti district.
From Wednesday onward, the government will run HRTC buses to facilitate return of these farmers, currently staying at Kullu, to return their homes in different villages of tribal district cut-off by snow at 13059 feet Rohtang Pass.
Most families in Lahaul-Spiti and Pangi –another landlocked valley of Chamba district, migrate to Kullu to spend their winter months because of heavy snowfall there, and also snapping of all road communication means to their homes.
The families, mostly farmers, return to their homes in March-April every year.
"This year, because of Coronavirus and lockdown orders these families could not go back their homes even as farm operations, like sowing and tilling of the lands, have begun. I made a special request to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to make an exception for the tribal families. He agreed to help in their return, and issued the orders," Minister for agriculture Dr Ram Lal Markanda said here.
Markanda is also BJP MLA from Lahaul-Spiti .
Five HRTC buses will carry 200 to 250 persons from Kullu to Rani Nallah, snow-point in downhill of Rohtang Pass.Thereafter all of them will walk on foot at least 10 km to cross Rohtang Pass, currently covered under heavy snow.
Dr Markanda said, "On other side, the buses will pick them up to their destinations" The operation will continue for next 10 days. But this is not without precautions. Only those farmers and families will be allowed to travel who are natives of Lahaul Spiti. Their booking will be done on basis of Aadhar card and other proofs or photo-IDs."
At Gulaba, the medical teams will undertake thermal testing of all the passengers and only medically fit and having no symptoms of Coronavirus will be allowed to travel. If anyone found with symptoms will be sent back or will be stopped. Same process will be repeated at Koksar.
"I have made an appeal to all the persons intending to travel not to take anyone in disguise of being a native. Even outsider farm labourers will not be permitted. If any violation is noticed, the government will invoke National Security Act (NSA) and Disaster Management Act," cautioned Dr Markanda.
He said the Border Roads Corporation (BRO) is expected to open Rohtang Pass in another five six days. The mobility will become easy.
The elders intending to travel can also book helicopter, which will also ferry them back homes later after few days.
The minister said since Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti
districts are in category of green zone having no COVID -19 cases, such exemption has been granted for benefit to farmers.
"Farmers in other districts in category of green and orange may also get some facilities and concessions after April 20 as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said.
Meanwhile, a 29-year-old woman in advanced stage of her pregnancy was airlifted from Kaza–headquarter of Spiti, to save her life as the woman was in critical condition.
