Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 3: Underscoring the importance of proposed Zojila Tunnel project, the Minister for Forests and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad today asked the Forest and Environment Departments to expedite the process of forest, environment and wild life clearances to facilitate early start of work on this prestigious project.
Reviewing the procedure related to the clearance of the Tunnel project at a high level meeting held here today, the Forest Minister said that it was the historic decision of Centre and State Governments for providing round the year connectivity to the people of Ladakh region. He said that proposed tunnel has great economic importance as well as it would also boost inter-regional and local trade and commerce.
Secretary Forests, Principal Chief Conservator Forests, Chief Wild Life Warden and Secretary Pollution Control Board were among other senior officers attended the meeting.
The Forest Minister instructed the concerned authorities to identify the suitable sites for dumping the mud dug out of the tunnel to avoid damage to the local flora and fauna. He asked the concerned authorities to ensure formulation of necessary environment study reports besides forest clearances for approval of the concerned union Ministries in time. He directed the officers concerned to work in close coordination with other concerned departments to resolve all issues to facilitate early start of work.
Mian Altaf said that the State Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah is paying focused attention to provide all weather connectivity, especially those regions and sub-regions which remain cut off due to heavy snowfall for about 4 to 5 months from rest of the State. He said that the sanction for construction of Zojila Tunnel was the outcome of concerted endeavours of the State Government. He asked the concerned officers to ensure settlement of all the forest related issues at the earliest to remove all hindrances in the way of early start of work.
The senior functionaries of the two departments briefed the Minister about latest status of various issues including forest, environment and wild life clearances and assured that all impediments in this regard would be removed well in time.
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