Tibetan roads impress pilgrims

Devotees share Kailash Mansoravar yatra experience

WHILE A robust infrastructure is being built up fast by China across the border in western Tibet, the work on the Indian side is disappointingly slow, pilgrims returning from the recently-concluded yatra said.

Pithoragarh (U’khand), Sept. 30: Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims said they have returned home impressed by the infrastructure coming up on the Tibetan side of the India-China border beyond the Lipulekh pass.

While a robust infrastructure is being built up fast by China across the border in western Tibet, the work on the Indian side is disappointingly slow, pilgrims returning from the recently-concluded yatra said.

Sudhir Verma, a resident of Nainital district, who was part of the 16th batch of the yatra this year, said the Indian roads may be still 75 km away from the pass whereas the Chinese have already reached around 500 metre.

The three motor roads being constructed to link the last Indian border post along the India-China border are progressing at a disappointingly slow pace, he said.

According to Dharchula sub-divisional magistrate R.K. Pandey, work on Sobla-Sela-Tedang motor road in Darma valley of Pithoragarh is stuck at Pangbawey locality due to huge leaning rocks, while the construction of Ghatiabagar-Lipulekh road is going on at a snail’s pace at Nazang for the last one year.

The 61-km motor road, aimed at linking the last security post along the India-China border in Johar valley of Munsiyari sub division has been constructed only up to 18 km till date in 10 years, Munsiyari SDM K.N. Goswami said. Construction of the road began in 2008, and was to be completed in 2012, but still only 18 km of it has been built, he said.