HP gets aid for highway project

Work could further speed up on the unique blooming highways project on the Bilaspur-Manali national highway (NH21) in Himachal Pradesh as the state government has received the first instalment of Rs 50,00,000 for the project from the Central Ministry of Tourism.

The aim of the project is to plant blooming trees on the highway, leading to the popular resort town of Manali, to make the journey memorable.

"Rs 75,00,000 has already been raised for the bloom highways project from other government and private agencies. This amount was utilised last year to plant blooming trees on a 16-km stretch from Bilaspur.

"We are encouraged by the high rate of survival of these trees," said K Subramanyam, a top state government official who is heading the project.

"Pits are being dug up for plantation along the NH-21 to be carried out after July 15 when the monsoon arrives," he said.

The bloom-highway project is being described as unique by many. The stakeholders of the project include state government agencies, non-government organisations, private bodies and panchayats and they will be offered financial benefits.

Voluntary help is being sought of some 300 panchayats along NH 21 for planting saplings on the 240-km long stretch between the Gara Morh Himachal-Punjab border post and the resort town of Manali.

Saplings will also be planted on the premises of the three stadiums in Mandi, Kullu and Bilaspur districts under this project.

Blooming trees will also be planted along the 18-km Swarghat-Naina Devi road leading to the popular pilgrimage centres of Naina Devi and the Baba Balak Nath in Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts.