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Monday, November 25, 2013

Alternative highway project gets Ministerial green signal

GANGTOK, 23 Nov: The Union Ministries of Defence and Forest & Environment have given the go ahead to the proposed alternate road to NH 31A exclusively for defense purposes. The proposal was floated by BRO Project Swastik in 2010-11.
The proposed route will cover Damdim, Chalsa, Khunia More, Jaldhaka and Tokday.
The Khunia More to Rhenock axis [via Rachela] covers a distance of about 75 km and links up with the 51 km stretch from Rhenock to Ranipool via Rorathang.
While speaking to NOW!, Chief Engineer Project Swastik SS Powral informed that the Ministry has given the go ahead to the project and had allotted the project to National Highways Authority of India [NHAI] for the stretch from Damdim, Chalsa to Rhenock while the remaining 51 kilometer stretch [in Sikkim] was allotted to the State PWD department for expansion.
However, sources in the Defense Ministry inform that NHAI had expressed reservations over taking up the project due to the ongoing ‘trouble’ in Darjeeling district and the project has since been allocated to Project Swastik under BRO.
The last meeting has also communicated the decision to the State government and Project Swastik, however, according to project Swastik it has not received the official communication from the Ministry.
Meanwhile, the state government has been preparing the Detailed Project Report on the up-gradation of the road from Rhenock to Rorathang via Pakyong to Ranipool area and will be submitting it soon.
At present, the condition of NH 31-A is not the best for defense purposes especially after the earthquake in 2011 and has become very vulnerable, said Mr. Powral.
It may be mentioned that NGOs from Kalimpong sub-division of West Bengal had raised objections to the proposed alternate highway in view of the adverse effect it could have on the Neora valley drinking water source.
The NGOs from Kalimpong had urged the Ministry of Environment and Forests to not clear the project since that Kalimpong was already facing acute water shortage and if the alternative route came up over the proposed route it could damage the environment and drinking water source of Kalimpong.
The rest of the stretch lies under the existing highway passing through Sipchu, Gairibas, Jhalong, Jaldhaka, Paren and Tokday.
Following objections raised by the Kalimpong NGOs, a high level committee headed by Director General, Forests and Director General of Border Roads inspected the route and gave the green signal to the alternate route, it is learnt.
Earlier, the BRO had also urged the Union Cabinet Secretary to review the MoEF recommendations before taking a decision on the alternative highway in view of national interest and also urged the Ministry to find out alternative means for Neora valley drinking water source for Kalimpong Sub-division.

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