High-level committee to monitor new road projects: Sukhu
A proper drainage and cross-drainage system would be made mandatory along all the roads in the State for which a high-level committee and monitoring teams would soon be constituted will look into the issue, stated Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu while presiding over a high-level meeting here late Thursday evening.
Roads and highways suffered heavy damage due to lack of cross drainage Mr. Sukhu said that it would be made mandatory to make drainage and cross drainage in all the roads to be constructed in the state.
He said that officers should ensure in the future that if road projects do not have drainage at the time of construction, it would not even be passed.
The Chief Minister said that the safety of roads could be ensured by quality work at the time of construction itself. He gave necessary directions to the officials after taking a detailed report of the damages caused due to heavy rains in the state.
He said that all rain disrupted roads should be restored by working 24 hours. The Chief Minister also asked the Public Works Department to ensure the use of heavy machinery and equipment to clear roads damaged by landslides.
He said that additional workforce and machinery were required to open the obstructed major roads in district Mandi. Roads are the lifelines of the mountain and it is very important to maintain them smoothly.
The Chief Minister said that scientific management would be ensured on the river banks in Kullu to prevent soil erosion by water. In view of this, the National Highways Authority and the Public Works Department have been asked to take far-reaching measures.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government has decided to provide two cranes each to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) companies in the State, which would help in speedy disaster management and rescue operations.
He said that drones would also be made available to all district disaster management authorities, this would help in mapping and monitoring as well as providing goods and medical aid to the people at the time of disaster.