SHIMLA: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday pulled up the officials the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) directing them check the siltation of fertile Balh and Baggie valleys from its dams and erect crash barriers along the Sundarnagar canal to prevent accidents.
Presiding over the meeting of BBMB with State Government here today, Thakur said the BBMB must also take up the work of metalling and tarring of Baggi to Dhanotu road in Sundernagar and Nachan areas of Mandi district to facilitate commuters as these roads are bad shape.
Every rainy season BBMB releases silt from the Pandoh dam that silt up the Mandi town embankments and Balh valley.
Jai Ram Thakur also directed BBM to expediate work on Thawal bridge in Sundernagar. BBMB must also consider construction of roads alongside 40 meters Mangla bridge constructed by BBMB.
He said that this would facilitate the people of several panchayats of Sundernagar, Nachan, Balh and Seraj Assembly Constituencies of Mandi district.
Chief Minister said BBMB authorities must also evolve a mechanism to check the spread of silt from projects to fertile land.
He said that proper retaining walls and safety measures must be taken to save the precious land of the farmers.
Jai Ram Thakur said that crash barriers must also be installed alongside the canal to avoid any untoward incidents.
BBMB authority should repair and maintain the Bathali bridge near Pandoh besides ensuring proper safety of eco-park at Pandoh.
Chief Minister also directed BBMB authorities to construct protection walls alongside outer boundary of Pong Dam.
BBMB should repair and maintain roads in the project affected area to facilitate the people, CM said.
MLA Nachhan Vinod Kumar, MLA Sundernagar Rakesh Jamwal, and MLA Dehra Hoshiyar Singh raised their issues regarding BBMB projects during the meeting and sought redressal.
On the other hand, Chairman BBMB Sanjay Srivastava assured the Chief Minister that the Board would take all the issues pertaining to the project area in right perspective and also ensure time bound completion of ongoing projects.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary R.D. Dhiman, Director Energy Harikesh Meena and other senior officers.
