BY MOHD MAJID MALIK , BHADERWAH,MAR24— An alternate road link has been established with Jammu and Kashmir which will reduce the distance between theState and the rest of the country. The Bhaderwah-Bani road link which was created 33 years back has been opened to the public.In 1972, a plan was implemented to provide an alternate link to Jammu and Kashmir. Two road networks — the Bhaderwah-Bani-Basolhi and the Bhaderwah-Chamba (Chamba district falls in Himachal Pradesh) — were termed crucial for the State’s progress.These roads would have considerably reduced the traffic flow on the Delhi-Pathankot-Jammu-Srinagar National Highway 1. It was also important for the people in Doda district which is a poverty-stricken belt and geographically isolated from the rest of the country.Realizing the importance of a good network of road links to travel to the state, the government of Jammu and Kashmir has decided to utilize theBhaderwah-Chambaand theBhaderwah-Bani-Basolhiroadways. Basohli-Bani-Bhadarwah road serves the people of Tehsil Bani as only accessible and lifeline route to connect them with the rest of the country but due to the slow pace of work on this road project it has become a headache for the people of Basohli, Bani and Bhadarwah. This road remains blocked for six months i.e from July to Sept in Summer during rainy season and from Dec to Feb. during winter season due to snow fall.
The journey from Basohli to Bani on this rough tough, tricky road takes from four to five hours when the fact is that earlier the people in the past used to travel on foot to buy their daily consumable items (ration); to get their ailments treated from Basohli and for several other reasons and if needed got returned in a single day. I have seen people taking sick persons on palaquin (Pealki) or on the back and climb the high mountains of Banjal (as it was the only on foot road connecting Bani with Basohli the other on foot road Bani Bhadarwah being desolate remained covered with snow for atleast four months).Although the journey on foot on this Basohli-Banjal Bani route was fatigable, tricky and dangerous but a compulsion for the people of Bani. God knows how many sick persons would have had been breathed their on this on foot road for not getting treatment in time at far off hospitals.The Basohli Bani Bhadarwah road, an alternate, shortest and tourist attractive road was taken up in the eightees and it was the dream project of our visionary and dynamic Prime Minister late Mrs Indira Gandhi. Besides it has been a long cherished demand of the people of Bani and Bhadarwah to get this road constructed. The ‘’Sampark and Beacon’’ road construction agencies were assigned to execute this road project after a thorough survey was conducted. Initially when the work on this road was started wayback in eightees only a single road construction agency i.e GREF 114 RCC was assigned to construct the single road from Basohli to Bhadarwah and no doubt the said agency accomplished their entrusted task although they have black topped only half of the road from Basohli to Bani .However, now the two agencies namely: ‘Sampark’ and ‘Beacon’ has been assigned to execute the two lane road on Basohli-Bani- Bhaderwah road. From Basohli sides ‘Sampark’ road construction agency is executing the construction work and from Bhaderwah side ‘’Beacon’’GREF 114 RCC is at job to execute this double lane road.CO BRO Pankaj said that Bhaderwah Bani road will be completed till 2017 and said GREF 114 RCC is using quality material in it and seek people cooperation .
. Three decades have passed since the work on this project was initiated but more than 70% still remains pending. The progress of the work is moving on the said road at snails pace due to heavy snow fall every year .The construction of this road is important from three aspects Tourism point of view : The whole Bani is a tourist attractive area. Bani town is situated alongside river Sewa, which means service. As the name suggest so does the people of Bani. One hydro electric project Sewa I has been constructed on this river and more hydel projects can be constructed on it. Bani is a bowl like valley sorrounded by mountains and it serves a central place and base camp to other tourist attractive destinations like Sarthal, Lowang, Dhaggar, Jourian Mata etc. It is also a business hub of this area. Most of the Educational and business activities are done here.Sarthal is the most fascinating and attractive place of Teh Bani. Sarthal is a beautiful valley and is surrounded by lush green conifer trees. The green meadows on the low lying mountains may serve as a trekking point to tourists and it has the potential for winter and adventure sports also. Moreover, abundance of fresh water flowing in this virgin valley has the potential for creation of an artificial lake there which in turn will add more attraction to tourists and will be a source of livelihood to local people.Cable cars can be laid down on the low lying mountains to have a glimpse of various tourist locations. Sarthal has the potential to attract lakhs of tourist if attention is paid by the Govt towards it. If we will go through its wildlife aspect; there are various rare wild species like, snow leopard, Himalayan Thur, Jungle cat, Himalayan Black Bear, Brown Bear, Indian porcupine, Hog Deer, Musk Deer, Goral etc and among Birds Monal Pheasant, Koklas pheasant, Cheer Pheasant, Red Jungle Fowl, Ram Chukor etc. All these and other rare species of its kind needs Govt attention to protect by establishing a sanctuary there. Otherwise all these rare and precious species will fell prey to the hunters. So far as flora and fauna of this area is concerned, there is abundance of various kinds of herbs and other unexplored medicinal plants which can be gauged by taking rest and sleep for a while in a meadow and one will be intoxicated by it. In nutshell voluminous books can be written on each subject on this unexplored fascinating and charming beauty of little valley Sarthal. Sarthal is one of the favourite destination of foreign tourists. Many tourists who used to come here via Bhaderwah to whome I met appreciate the beauty of Sarthal and express their willingness of visit again but all the visiting tourists have the same complaint that its road connectivity is not good. Because of that most of the tourists willing to visit to this virgin valley end up visiting up to Bhaderwah and go back with disappointment.Basohli-Bani-
BY MOHD MAJID MALIK , BHADERWAH,MAR24— An alternate road link has been established with Jammu and Kashmir which will reduce the distance between theState and the rest of the country. The Bhaderwah-Bani road link which was created 33 years back has been opened to the public.In 1972, a plan was implemented to provide an alternate link to Jammu and Kashmir. Two road networks — the Bhaderwah-Bani-Basolhi and the Bhaderwah-Chamba (Chamba district falls in Himachal Pradesh) — were termed crucial for the State’s progress.These roads would have considerably reduced the traffic flow on the Delhi-Pathankot-Jammu-Srinagar National Highway 1. It was also important for the people in Doda district which is a poverty-stricken belt and geographically isolated from the rest of the country.Realizing the importance of a good network of road links to travel to the state, the government of Jammu and Kashmir has decided to utilize theBhaderwah-Chambaand theBhaderwah-Bani-Basolhiroadways. Basohli-Bani-Bhadarwah road serves the people of Tehsil Bani as only accessible and lifeline route to connect them with the rest of the country but due to the slow pace of work on this road project it has become a headache for the people of Basohli, Bani and Bhadarwah. This road remains blocked for six months i.e from July to Sept in Summer during rainy season and from Dec to Feb. during winter season due to snow fall.
The journey from Basohli to Bani on this rough tough, tricky road takes from four to five hours when the fact is that earlier the people in the past used to travel on foot to buy their daily consumable items (ration); to get their ailments treated from Basohli and for several other reasons and if needed got returned in a single day. I have seen people taking sick persons on palaquin (Pealki) or on the back and climb the high mountains of Banjal (as it was the only on foot road connecting Bani with Basohli the other on foot road Bani Bhadarwah being desolate remained covered with snow for atleast four months).Although the journey on foot on this Basohli-Banjal Bani route was fatigable, tricky and dangerous but a compulsion for the people of Bani. God knows how many sick persons would have had been breathed their on this on foot road for not getting treatment in time at far off hospitals.The Basohli Bani Bhadarwah road, an alternate, shortest and tourist attractive road was taken up in the eightees and it was the dream project of our visionary and dynamic Prime Minister late Mrs Indira Gandhi. Besides it has been a long cherished demand of the people of Bani and Bhadarwah to get this road constructed. The ‘’Sampark and Beacon’’ road construction agencies were assigned to execute this road project after a thorough survey was conducted. Initially when the work on this road was started wayback in eightees only a single road construction agency i.e GREF 114 RCC was assigned to construct the single road from Basohli to Bhadarwah and no doubt the said agency accomplished their entrusted task although they have black topped only half of the road from Basohli to Bani .However, now the two agencies namely: ‘Sampark’ and ‘Beacon’ has been assigned to execute the two lane road on Basohli-Bani- Bhaderwah road. From Basohli sides ‘Sampark’ road construction agency is executing the construction work and from Bhaderwah side ‘’Beacon’’GREF 114 RCC is at job to execute this double lane road.CO BRO Pankaj said that Bhaderwah Bani road will be completed till 2017 and said GREF 114 RCC is using quality material in it and seek people cooperation .
. Three decades have passed since the work on this project was initiated but more than 70% still remains pending. The progress of the work is moving on the said road at snails pace due to heavy snow fall every year .The construction of this road is important from three aspects Tourism point of view : The whole Bani is a tourist attractive area. Bani town is situated alongside river Sewa, which means service. As the name suggest so does the people of Bani. One hydro electric project Sewa I has been constructed on this river and more hydel projects can be constructed on it. Bani is a bowl like valley sorrounded by mountains and it serves a central place and base camp to other tourist attractive destinations like Sarthal, Lowang, Dhaggar, Jourian Mata etc. It is also a business hub of this area. Most of the Educational and business activities are done here.Sarthal is the most fascinating and attractive place of Teh Bani. Sarthal is a beautiful valley and is surrounded by lush green conifer trees. The green meadows on the low lying mountains may serve as a trekking point to tourists and it has the potential for winter and adventure sports also. Moreover, abundance of fresh water flowing in this virgin valley has the potential for creation of an artificial lake there which in turn will add more attraction to tourists and will be a source of livelihood to local people.Cable cars can be laid down on the low lying mountains to have a glimpse of various tourist locations. Sarthal has the potential to attract lakhs of tourist if attention is paid by the Govt towards it. If we will go through its wildlife aspect; there are various rare wild species like, snow leopard, Himalayan Thur, Jungle cat, Himalayan Black Bear, Brown Bear, Indian porcupine, Hog Deer, Musk Deer, Goral etc and among Birds Monal Pheasant, Koklas pheasant, Cheer Pheasant, Red Jungle Fowl, Ram Chukor etc. All these and other rare species of its kind needs Govt attention to protect by establishing a sanctuary there. Otherwise all these rare and precious species will fell prey to the hunters. So far as flora and fauna of this area is concerned, there is abundance of various kinds of herbs and other unexplored medicinal plants which can be gauged by taking rest and sleep for a while in a meadow and one will be intoxicated by it. In nutshell voluminous books can be written on each subject on this unexplored fascinating and charming beauty of little valley Sarthal. Sarthal is one of the favourite destination of foreign tourists. Many tourists who used to come here via Bhaderwah to whome I met appreciate the beauty of Sarthal and express their willingness of visit again but all the visiting tourists have the same complaint that its road connectivity is not good. Because of that most of the tourists willing to visit to this virgin valley end up visiting up to Bhaderwah and go back with disappointment.Basohli-Bani-