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The tribal areas of the State are no
longer what they were years back. These areas now have almost all
kinds of facilities which have enabled these areas taste the fruits
of development being enjoyed by other parts of the State. The
Pangi valley in Chamba District as the development in this areas is
taking place as never before despite having extremely difficult
terrain and indifferent climatic conditions. It is poised to emerge
as a tribal belt with cent percent road connectivity to all the
Panchyat Headquarter within next 2-3 years will make this valley more
prospress.
The valley is one of the remotest tribal
areas of the State, owing to most difficult access, the State
government has accorded utmost priority in creating road communication
infrastructure and providing connectivity to all the 54 villages of
the valley. Consequently, the pace of development has been accelerated
to a great extent in all the fields.
The last 4 years have witnessed
expansion and improvement in the road connectivity to all the 16
panchayats headquarters of Pangi tehsil at large scale. Out of these
11 panchayats headquarters stand connected with motorable roads. The
area of Pangi tehsil is spread over 1601 Sq. KM with a population of
17,598 persons as per 2001 census. So far motorable road length of 140
KM has been completed while jeepable road length is 57 KM. Out of
these 26 KM is metalled. The cross drainage has been done on 35 Kms,
while 60 Kms road now have the facility of soling. The wearing has
been done on 32 KM length while the 26 KM road length is tarred.
One of the remarkable features of road
connectivity in Pangi Valley has been the 170 KM road link from Chamba
to Killar via Saach-pass. This is known as Alwas-Killar road and it
is part of Ahju khara Mukh - Chamba - Tissa- Alwas- Killar road. The
total length of this road is 67 KM from Dind. This road was opened
for vehicular traffic last year. From Chamba via Tissa Bairagarh and
Satrundi, the road is motorable up to Bhatotu and from here to KiIlar,
the 30 Km distance is jeepable. Earlier, people were required to
undergo an ordeal of 800 Kms long journey to reach Killar from Chamba
via Kullu and Manali.
The construction of this road was
basically aimed at providing connectivity to District Headquarter
Chamba from Killar. The construction of this road is also considered
significant from the defense point of view. The distance from
Pathankot railway station / Cantonment via Manali to Killar is more
than 680 Kms. Pathankot to Le via Jammu and Kashmir is about 920 KM.
After the completion of this road link the distance from Pathankot to
Leh via Saach pass has been reduced to 670 K.M. With the construction
of this road the Pangi Valley with a population of 21,000 at present
has been connected with the shortest route with its District
Headquarter Chamba. The Chamba town via Manali-Lahaul is 680 KM and
Kishtwar - Doda - Jammu the distance is 570 KM. The Saach pass remains
open for vehicular traffic from mid June to October. While during the
rest of the period the road communication is snapped due to heavy
snowfall. The Sach pass is located at a height of 14500 feet above sea
level.
In Pangi Valley the agro-climatic
conditions range between a height of 7,000 feet to 11,000 feet above
sea level and all the villages are located within this range of
height. The number of revenue villages is 106 but only 54 villages are
inhabited. Of these 30 have been connected with the road and the
faster pace with which of road construction in the valley is taking
place rest of 24 villages are likely to be connected with motorable
roads within next 2-3 years.
The entire area of Pangi Valley is
spread in 3 valleys. These are Saichu, Hudan Bhatori and Sural Bhatori.
At present, the construction of link roads is in progress to panchyat
headquarters of Resi, Kothi (Kariyuni), Luj, Kumar and Shoon.
According to an estimate the State Govt. is spending around Rs. 5
crore every year under different schemes on the construction of roads
and bridges in Pangi tehsil. As far as the bridges are concerned, the
Killar division of state PWD has constructed 2 motorable bridges, 3
jeepable bridges, 3-foot bridges in different areas of Pangi valley.
The work is in progress on the construction of 2 bridges.
The Saichu valley road is 22 KM from
Killar and it connects Dharwas, Sural, Rus Unu, Tai Sural and Sural
Bhaturi. Out of this so far 19 KM road length stands completed. The
major road link in Pangi valley is Killar to Hudan Bhatori. It is 14.6
KM long and has been completed upto 13 KM. The link road to Mindhal
village is 3.6 KM on the boundary of Lahaul and Jammu areas and it has
connected panchyat headquarter of Mindhal and also holy temple of Mata
Mindhal.
All the roads in Pangi Valley have given
a big boost to the growing of cash crops in all the areas. During the
last couple of years, the tribal people of the valley had taken up the
production of Peas (Matar) in a big way. The Peas is mostly grown in
rural Hudan and Purthi areas and is considered to be an off-season
vegetable since it is grown during the months of September- October.
The turnover of Peas in 2006 was estimated at Rs. 25 Lacs. The Peas
grown in Pangi valley fetches appreciable rates between Rs.20-25 per
Kg. and the entire crop is purchased by the contractors from Jammu and
Pathankot area in the fields itself. The people of valley has also
taken up cultivation of Apple besides other fruits, which is also
fetching remunerative rates for their production and resulting in the
economic prosperity of local people. | 
