Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 16: The Cable Car Corporation has yet not obtained all the necessary clearances for the ropeway project from Mubarak Mandi to Bahu Fort and Mahamaya Devi Mandir across River Tawi.
This was disclosed by Minister Incharge Tourism in the Legislative Assembly in reply to the question of BJP MLA from Jammu East Assembly constituency, Ashok Khajuria. “The Cable Car Corporation is still in the process of getting the necessary clearances before the actual execution of the project on the ground”, he added.
As far as environment clearance is concerned, the Minister said, “the application for environmental clearance has been moved before the competent authority—Union Ministry of Environment and Forest”. He, however, said that public hearing has been conducted by the Pollution Control Board, which is pre-requisite for environment clearance, and Environment Assessment and Environmental Management Plan has been got conducted/prepared by Jammu University which is being submitted to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.
About the wildlife clearances, the Minister informed the House that the State Board of Wildlife headed by the Chief Minister has recommended the project for wildlife clearance, adding on the recommendations of the State Board of Wildlife, the Standing Committee of National Board of Wildlife has also recommended the project for wildlife clearance. “The matter now requires permission of the Supreme Court”, the Minister further said.
About the other clearances, the Minister said, “the matter is being pursued with the Forest Advisory Committee for forest clearance”, adding “the project involves acquisition of private land of Shahabad and the award has been issued by the Collector, Land Acquisition”.
“The private land owners have approached the High Court and the matter is being pursued”, the Minister said while disclosing that Rs 186 lakh have been placed at the disposal of Collector, Land Acquisition.
M/s Damador Ropway Infrastructure Ltd, Kolkata has been selected in the tendering process supported by RITES India Ltd and the Letter of Intent has been issued in favour of the company, the Minister said, adding the Power Development Department has started work on re-alignment of infrastructure to pave way for implementation of the project.
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