10th, January, 2022

 

Topic: Infrastructure

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

What is the news?

• P.K. Baruah, Chief Engineer, Headquarters, Project Deepak called on Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Raj Bhavan, today.

 

What is Project Deepak?

• Project Deepak has constructed major bridges in snow bound and inhospitable terrain, the important ones are Dubling, Shongtong, Shalkar, Khab and Kharo bridge on Hindustan Tibet Road, curved bridge of NautiKhud on Dhami-Kiongal Road and Tandi, Chode, Kothi and Palchan bridges on Manali-Sarchu Road.
• Project Deepak was raised in May 1961 with Col S N Punjh as Chief Engineer, primarily for the construction of Hindustan-Tibet (H-T) Road.
• The H-T Road is one of the most difficult roads ever to have been constructed in India.
• The 76 Km long Pooh-Kaurik sector of the H-T Road passes through considerable lengths of sheer vertical hard rock stretches and huge bouldery strata embedded in sand and non-cohesive material, which is inherently unstable. The sector runs along the River Satluj crossing it at several locations.
• The road runs at altitudes between 1600 to 3600 meters. On the whole, the terrain and climatic conditions are very uncongenial. Many valuable lives were lost during the construction of this road.
• Thus, this work is a testimony to the sheer grit, determination and perseverance shown by PROJECT DEEPAK right from its early days.

 

Honors And Awards to Project Deepak:

•  During the last 52 years, the Project has earned its share of laurels and continues to forge ahead with the motto “SADA AGE SABSE AGE” (Always Ahead – Ahead of All).

 

The details of honors and awards are as under:

 

(a) Krithi Chakra – 01

(b) Shaurya Chakra – 39

(c) Sena Medal – 01

(d) Vishist Seva Medal – 03

(e) Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak – 01

(f) Jeevan Raksha Padak – 11

(g) COAS – 35

(h) VCOAS – 21

(j) Govt Commendation Certificate – 56

(k) DGBR Commendation Card – 162

(Source: HP Government)

 

Important Day:

 

Chief Minister Shri Jayaram Thakur ji conveyed heartfelt greetings to all on “World Hindi Day”.

• 10 Jan 2022: World Hindi Day is celebrated annually on 10 January. Vishwa Hindi Diwas celebrates the anniversary of the first Hindi World Conference held in Nagpur on January 10, 1975.
• The conference was inaugurated by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi in Nagpur. Hindi is considered to be the mother language of India.