By Sonam Chhomo

I am no geologist, not even a researcher on such scientific subjects, I can only present my views as a commentator as I watch the events slowly unfold. 

In front of me rests a television news channel which shows the inauguration of Atal-Rohtang tunnel, the tunnel which can apparently bring prosperity to the Lahaulis. With limited options, my parents watch this news in Punjabi language due to the limited number of news channels operating for Himachal Pradesh on such a big day for us. The mobile phones prove beneficial as my relatives and my mom keep informing each other and delegate the local news and the news that their television sets provide.

“Oh! Really, they didn’t call him for the inauguration!” 

“Yes, they are showing that in this channel too.” 

Even 3000 km apart, the news of their dear homeland stagnates all other prospects of other news and reality shows. 

But what is so special about this Atal-Rohtang tunnel? Why is it such an important day for us? 

Well, I have been hearing about the formation of this tunnel for ten years and finally during the least expected time, this tunnel has been completed and opened for the locals. This tunnel is said to be the world’s longest tunnel at a high altitude of 10,004 feet above sea level, of about 9.02 km in length. This tunnel is acknowledged to be good for defence strategic purposes. Additionally local people will be able to reach Ladakh and vice versa as it will reduce the time travel by about 46 km during summer season. 

But when implying Ladakh, one should also consider that there are two passes which connect Ladakh to Lahaul: one is Shringu la that connects Zanskar and further Kargil and the other is Baralacha la that connects the Leh region of Ladakh. Most people would be unaware, but it should be noted that Ladakh is very diverse and literally a huge region where one area such as Leh and another such as Zanskar would entail around 460 km (10 hours) to reach each other’s respective areas. Hence, this tunnel, as many locals from Leh convey, will mostly benefit the people from Zanskar region, in maybe another three years’ time, as the road from Darcha (Lahaul)- Padum (Zanskar)- Leh (Ladakh) is under construction. 

In Spiti too, as one local puts it, will decrease the time travel in summer season but prove dysfunctional as Kunzum la, the pass which connects Manali/Lahaul to Spiti, will be blocked due to harsh weather conditions during winter season.

 Thus, mainly, the Atal-Rohtang tunnel will provide the locals of Lahaul valley, who remained isolated during winters for six months, a choice to freely navigate spaces beyond Lahaul without requesting a helicopter service for the same.  It is not only Lahaul but also people from the Pangi region, for whom the only connectivity is through Pattan valley of Lahaul, a chance to explore the other side.  

Winters are snow-filled that sometimes envelop the vehicles such as cars and buses in its snow lap. Due to such harsh conditions, more often than not, the roads could not be approached to travel to the other side. Instead, a helicopter service by the government could be facilitated by the local population. A helicopter service may be seen as a cool option for tourists to think about, but the reality is a little suffocating. During the summer months, the best efforts of the people, as I have watched in my family, would be to acquire the food resources and ration and everything possible for six months. Due to lack of good telephone signals in the past in some areas, the locals had to travel to other places in search of good signal connection. During times of urgent medical need, although the helicopter service was applicable, there were no ambulances to take them to the assigned area in a snow-filled landscape. Even though the assigned areas were located in clusters of villages, those could only be used during stable weather conditions. Thus, the only available service in Lahaul would heavily depend on weather, wind and snow conditions. Now, with the help of this tunnel, at least on days of stable weather conditions and no-snow days, we don’t have to depend on some other service to take us to the other side; there is no rush for us to pack our things before the onset of cold weather and our decisions are not dependent on the amount of food ration left at our home.

 On the economic side, many locals feel that this will at least give them the opportunity to transfer their products- potatoes, cauliflower and nowadays organic fruits and vegetables to the market on the other side. Although this predicament was thought about before the change in farm bills. Many others also feel that the tunnel will broaden economic opportunities for them such as in the form of hotel chains and guest houses. But will the climate of Lahaul allow this? 

Many news channels and media are also emphasising that a new winter sports location can be created in Lahaul which will certainly boost the economic status of the locals. But owing to the climate change and geographical instability, which I think was not taken into account, this idea will need to be forsaken. People should not forget that Lahaul is also prone to avalanches during winters and otherwise too; the roads and the locals perhaps can prove as witnesses to it. Additionally, if I had the opportunity, I would have liked to ask the locals if they were ready for a big change like this. The locals should realise that along with the economic boost and transport fluidity, the tunnel will also bear witness to a large influx of tourists like the way it does in Manali. Till the time being, the tourists would populate the areas in Rohtang pass and the roads leading up to it. Manali, as locals would know, is a huge tourist spot, where the traffic is incomprehensible to the kind of traffic the city can actually accommodate. There have been times, such as in mine, when I would have to think twice before leaving for Manali or Vashisht (another famous tourist spot) to meet my cousins. The trekking camps and the tourists have surely become a main source of economic benefit, but then they have also become a deterrent in our everyday lives. We need to change our timings, our schedules in order to adjust to the workings of the tourists who bless us with their money. Many trekking camps or projects, which are largely business related, employ the locals as mere guides and other jobs, whereas the main profit is often consumed by the outsiders-created business holders. (You might be buying their products right now). This is not just in case of Manali but also in other tourist places like Shimla where locals are already facing water-shortage calamity and the mense created by tourists around new year and christmas. 

Do you think Lahual would turn into another Manali/Shimla/just another hill station for us? Do you think this development will prove to be a catalyst to a big acculturation process? 

What could be a possible solution to this, if you deem it as trouble?

Perhaps if the locals would emphasise on sustainability and strictly articulate it to the tourists, then there can be some hope at putting a halt at waste pollution, which Manali really needs to focus on.I remember, a few years ago for a few days of the week, Rohtang pass had to be closed due to the huge amount of dirt that had piled up on its white blanket of snow. Thankfully, it won’t be the same for a few years I suppose, considering that the tourists would now want to fascinate themselves with the tunnel. But then at the end of the tunnel, they would all wish to explore Lahaul, their culture, their society and their people. Well, Lahaul has much to offer in these aspects. But we also need to make sure that these big changes, sudden influxes don’t interrupt with the atmosphere of the place in general. As Himalayan Buddhists would agree, there should always be a balance of everything. And with this, perhaps, the locals will need to balance these dual aspects of this development and big change.