On February 24 last, the Chief Minister accompanied by the Minister for Tourism laid the foundation of Cable Car Project that would link Peerkhu with Mahamaya forest and Shahbad. The Chief Minister had declared on that occasion that funds would not be a constraint for bringing the project to completion within time. But five months later, the project is stuck up for want of funds. It has to be reminded that the clearance of the project took long time as there was litigation and the final verdict was passed by the Apex Court of the country.
The matter has actually got stuck up at land acquisition level. The Supreme Court has ordered that 56 kanals of land of Mahamaya Forests be given to the J&K State Cable Car Project Corporation. Clearance from the SC Empowerment Committee has finally been obtained. The Cable Car Corporation has made payment of 3.75 crore rupees to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in March but the Forest department has not so far taken any step to demarcate the land that is to be transferred to the Cable Car Project. There are hurdles in way. To start the work on the project, Cable Car Corporation requires 28 kanals of private land at Peer Khu and 14 kanals at Bahu. But acquiring of these segments has become difficult for the Cable Car Project Corporation owing to non-availability of funds. The work could not be started.
Cable Car project was announced with great funfair as in the case of many more projects. This is what usually happens with most of projects. Will the cable car ever see the light of the day is a question? Though there are two parts of the Cable Car Project but when the project has got stuck up at the first stage, it will be premature to think of the second stage. The Government should not make a joke of the expectant people who were told that with the start of the cable car connectivity across the river will receive a boost.
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