Efforts to check migration from Indo-China border in Pithoragarh

Efforts to check migration from Indo-China border in Pithoragarh

B.D.Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, Oct 23

In an effort to check migration from border villages and to stabilize the population at Indo-China border of  Vyans valley of the  district besides providing facilities to the tourists, visiting ‘Adi Kailash’ and ‘Om Parvat’ mountains, the Pithoragarh district administration has prepared a proposal of opening a sub-tehsil and an Allopathic hospital at Gunji, a border village, in Vyans valley of Indo-China border.

“We have decided to give medical facility to  all seven villages of Vyans valley at Gunji, as these villagers are bound to travel 60 km to Dharchula to get  even  minor medical treatment. The Allopathic hospital will also give medical facilties to tourists visiting the region from across the country,” said Dr Ashish Chauhan, District Magistrate, Pithoragarh.

The sub-tehsil, if sanctioned will also make villagers to get the facility of land records near home and shun long and arduous travel of 69 km to Dharchula to get land records.” The sub Tehsil will also facilitate granting of online permit to tourists at Gunji, if they would not have got it at Dharchula sub-division,” said the DM.

Every year thousands of tourists from across the country, visit ‘Adi Kailash’ and ‘Om Parvat’, situated in the valley.” After the pilgrimage of ‘Kailash Mansarovar’ ceased from last three years, the tourists are pouring to ‘Adi Kailash’ and ‘Om Parvat’ in large numbers,” said the DM.

“These tourists, mostly from plains region of the country, sometimes complaints of Oxygen shortage at this height of more than 10000 feet and to treat them immediately, a hospital is essential at Gunji,” said the DM.

According to local villagers, if these facilities will be available to villagers at Gunji, it will help them to remain there permanently in  the border villages at Indo-China border.” Besides these essential facilities, if the opportunities of livelihood could be in created at Vyas valley, even the retired personnel’s from these villages could settle in these villages,” said Tej Singh Gunjiyal, a villager from Gunji.

According to Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, a total of 32 tourists batches to “Adi Kailash” have till date reached the region this year.” These tourists, mostly from Maharashtra, MP, Rajasthan, Gujrat, West Bengal and Delhi complain of poor lodging facilities, lack of  communication, transport facilities besides lack of medical facilities and trained guides.” If the government could meet all these challenges, the border villages would again be rehabilitated round the year, giving the country, a second line of defence at this part of Indo- China border,” said Tej Singh Gunjiyal.

Pithoragarh district admiNistration has organised a Country level cycling competition and river rafting in Kuti Yangti river in the beginning f this year, to attract the tourists to the region.” We are also establishing a ‘Kailash Mansarovar’ museum  at Gunji village soon, “said Dr Ashish Chauhan, District Magistrate, Pithoragarh.