We are not surprised to learn that Patnitop aerial ropeway project is abandoned by the Hyderabad-based Nagarjun Construction Company Ltd. to which it was contracted a decade back. We have kept a track of the journey of this case through a host of departments and agencies all this one decade and we were convinced that loss of a decade would ultimately force the contracting company to abandon it because of the cost factor. The cost estimate was 50 crore rupees when the idea was conceived and today after more than one decade it has escalated to over 100 crore rupees. The reason is the inordinately long delay in obtaining permission from various Governmental and legal agencies. Why should the construction company suffer for something for which the Government is responsible?
Only a few days back almost identical story about the Ratle Hydroelectric Power project in Kishtwar was reported by us. That too was a Hyderabad-based company and the reason for that company to back out were almost the same though much was not given out. The question is that the Government makes announcements only to win public favour without taking into account whether the project announced is technically sound and whether the allocation made takes into consideration the hike in case of its delay. These are all preliminary questions which have to be given due attention. Hundreds of millions of rupees and long years have been spent in the hope of projects like Ratle and Patnitop ropeway would see the light of the day and that would bring prosperity to the State. The hopes and expectations of the people are belied, our money is wasted and we are left to lick our wounds. This is unacceptable. The Government must come out with its explanation as to why important projects and schemes fail us and it has to find a permanent solution to the problem. If rules and procedures are complicated, these have to be made easier and less time consuming. Bottlenecks have to be removed.
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