Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 8: The construction work on 11 km long main tunnel at Baltal, on Srinagar-Leh National Highway, would be started shortly while the BEACON, the executing agency of the work, has received forest and environment clearance of the project.
This assurance was given by the Chief Engineer, BEACON at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Minister for Forests and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad here today. The meeting was convened to review the status of project and remove the impediment affecting the progress of the project.
Secretary Forests, Chief Wildlife Warden, Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir besides other senior officers from forest and BEACON were present on the occasion.
The meeting discussed in detail various aspects of the project and the measures need to be taken to ensure early commencement of work on this prestigious project aimed to provide all weather road connectivity to the people of Kashmir and Ladakh.
Underlining need for expediting the project, the Minister asked the authorities of BEACON and Forest Department to keep close coordination in order to take forward the project work smoothly. He said once this vital link is completed, the people of Ladakh and Kashmir regions would travel on the road throughout the year.
Mian Altaf said that remaining Srinagar-Leh highway closed consecutively for several months during winter badly affects the economy of the people of the area. He said the priority of the Government was to ensure start work on the project early for the benefit of the people of both the sides.
The Minister asked the Chief Engineer to settle all the payment claims pending with them on account of land compensation. Pleading for forest clearance of certain other projects, the Chief Engineer said the payment cases have been taken up with higher authorities of the Organization and will be settled in due course.
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