*Project cost escalates by 40% even before start of work
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 4: In a major setback to the much talked about plans of retaining tourists in the City of Temples, the Jammu aerial ropeway project continues to remain entangled in the land acquisition and financial crisis despite necessary clearance from all the quarters and laying of foundation stone about a year back.
The most shocking aspect is that the cost of the project has escalated up to 40% even before the start of the work because of lack of interest in the project by those at the helm of affairs in the Tourism Department.
Reliable sources in the Tourism Department told EXCELSIOR that despite necessary clearances like environmental, wildlife and Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court, which took about four years, there are no signs of immediate start of the work on hybrid passenger ropeway project from Peerkho to Mahamaya Park and to Shahbad.
What to talk of necessary clearances even the foundation stone of the project was laid by the then Chief Minister in the month of February last year but work could not begin till date mainly because of delay in land acquisition process coupled with the financial crisis, they said.
They disclosed that out of 28 kanals and 8 marlas of land required at Lower Terminal (Peerkho), 14 kanals and 11 marlas is the private land and 13 kanals and 17 marlas is forest land. “The acquisition of private land is still under process in the office of Collector Land Acquisition Jammu despite the fact that compensation amount of over Rs 5 crore raised by the Revenue Department was deposited during the month of July last year”, sources said.
Similarly, 14 kanals and 18 marlas of private land is required at Shahbad near Bahu Fort for Upper Terminal Station. “Land acquisition process for 5 kanal and 18 marlas is still at final stage despite the fact that compensation to the tune of over Rs 2 crore was deposited with the Revenue Department authorities during the month of July last year”, sources said.
“The acquisition of remaining nine kanals of land is pending with the revenue authorities due to intervention of High Court”, they further said while disclosing that 56 kanals and six marlas of forest land required at Mahamaya has been transferred to the Jammu and Kashmir State Cable Car Corporation.
About the requirement of more funds, sources said that amount to the tune of Rs 4.75 crore for payment of compensation for acquisition of private land measuring 9 kanals at Shahabad has yet not been released by the Government till date. “Power Development Department, which was given Rs 118.79 lakh for erecting of some poles and sub-station at Peerkho, has projected revised estimates as per which an amount to the tune of Rs 140.20 lakh is required to be given to it”, they added.
“Since M/s Damador Ropeway and Infra Limited, which has been entrusted the task of constructing the project, is in technical collaboration with M/s STM Turkey and Letter of Credit for foreign components is to be opened, an amount of Rs 14 crore is required”, sources said while disclosing that unless funds are made available Letter of Credit for imported components cannot be opened.
Though work on the project has yet not begun but its cost has escalated up to 40% due to steep hike in US dollar and this aspect would be clarified only when the agreement with the contractor is entered into and Letter of Credit opened, sources said.
Stating that even design of the project has to be modified at Lower Terminal Station, sources said, “this becomes imperative as during the floods in the month of September last year, the Highest Flood Level at Peerkho was recorded at 33 feet—three feet above the previous Highest Flood Level”.
Due to all these reasons, the foundation stone laid about a year back is mocking at those at the helm of affairs in the Tourism Department as they were supposed to get all the impediments removed by showing personal interest in the project, which is of immense importance for retaining tourists in the City of Temples.
It is hoped that new dispensation in the State would take keen interest in the project and ensure early start of work otherwise this would be one more instance of discrimination with Jammu.
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