Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 10: In a significant development, Forest Advisory Committee today gave nod to the transfer of around 70 kanals of forest land to the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation for the construction of Peerkho-Mahamaya-Shahbad ropeway, which will go a long way in attracting tourists to the winter capital of the State. Now, the project will be placed before the State Cabinet shortly for its nod and subsequent execution of work on the ground.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Forest Advisory Committee in its 82nd meeting held at Civil Secretariat here under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey gave nod to the transfer of around 70 kanals of forest land to the Cable Car Corporation for the execution of ropeway project, which remained in the grip of uncertainties during the past several years.
The Forest Advisory Committee nod has come after the Supreme Court clearance, which was accorded in the month of November last year. The Supreme Court decision was based on the recommendations of Central Empowered Committee, which had inspected the site of the project on June 3, 2013 to see whether this project would have any adverse impact on the environment.
The decision of the Supreme Court was formally conveyed to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests by the J&K State Cable Car Corporation on December 9, 2013 for placing the matter before the Forest Advisory Committee, which today gave nod for the transfer of forest land falling in the alignment of the project, sources said.
The ambitious project has already received the environment clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest. Even the standing committee of National Board of Wildlife in its meeting held on October 26, 2012 had also recommended the proposal for construction of the project in view of its little incremental impact on the area.
In response to a question, sources said, “now the minutes of the Forest Advisory Committee meeting would be placed before the State Cabinet shortly for its final nod and subsequent start of work on the ground”.
They informed that the work was tendered through M/s RITES India Limited, which has been engaged as consultant for the project and M/s Damodar Ropeway and Infrastructure Ltd, Kolkata in collaboration with STM Teleferik Turkey has already been awarded the contract.
The ropeway project will consist of two sections—Peerkho to Mahamaya Park having length of 1137 meters and Mahamaya Park to Shahbad having length of 453 meters. There will be mono-cable detachable Gandola system for 1137 meter stretch having capacity to carry 600 persons per hour while as for 453 meter stretch there will be mono-cable pulsated Gandola system with the similar capacity. According to the sources, the project, whose initial cost was Rs 40 crore, is likely to witness escalation by 40%.
Responding to another query, sources said that at Terminal No.1 total land requirement has been worked out at 28 kanals and 8 marlas, which include 14 kanals and 11 marlas private land and 13 kanals and 9 marlas of forest land. Similarly, at Terminal No.2 the total land requirement has been worked out at 56 kanals and 6 marlas at Mahamaya and at Terminal No.3 the land requirement is 14 kanals and 18 marlas. The land at Terminal No.2 is entirely forest land while as land at Terminal No.3 is private land.
About the private land required to be acquired for the project, Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Ajeet Kumar Sahu said, “no dispute is pending with the owners of the private land. The paper work is being carried out and within next fortnight compensation will be awarded to the owners”, adding “there is no hindrance as far as private land is concerned and Cable Car Corporation has already been conveyed that they can go ahead with the execution of project as and when they desire”.
According to the sources, an amount of Rs 186 lakh has already been transferred in favour of Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) Jammu as compensation for the acquisition of private land at Shahabad. Moreover, an amount of Rs 82.50 lakh has been transferred to the Power Development Department out of the total estimated cost of Rs 164.39 lakh for laying/shifting of transmission lines and installation of dedicated transformers for the project.
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