Bijay Charak
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 31: After braving bureaucratic red tape for over a decade, work on much awaited Patnitop Aerial Ropeway project, is likely to begin in new financial year.
In January, 2004 state government had accorded sanction to the project for attracting more tourists to the picturesque spot of Patnitop during the meeting of Patnitop Development Authority which was chaired by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed when he was Chief Minister in the People's Democratic Party-Congress Coalition Government.
Interestingly, previous government in its six year tenure had shelved the project .
State government in reply of a written question asked by Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Dina Nath Bhagat informed the Lower House that work on the project would commence soon.
The MLA on Tuesday asked the government that whether it is a fact that Patnitop Gandola Project stands sanctioned, if so, the reasons for not taking up the execution of the project so far and the date when it will be executed and commissioned?
"The project Patnitop Aerial Ropeway was conceived and approved in 2004. But, as some part of the project fell in forest and wildlife area, the work could not be started.
Acquiring forest land is a cumbersome process", the government informed the House, adding the forest land required for the project has been cleared by the Supreme Court in August 2014.
"State forest advisory committee cleared the case on March 9, 2015. After this clearance, M/s Nagarjuna Constructions, Hyderabad has been asked to start the work at the earliest.
The team of representatives of the company will be visiting J&K in coming weeks", the reply read. |
