Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 15: Though work for the construction of 1.6 km long cable car project worth Rs 40 crore was allotted to the joint consortium of Turky and Kolkata (India) based firms jointly about an year ago by the J&K Government, yet the construction work could not be taken up till today as the Supreme Court was yet to give its green nod to the State Government.
The Central Empowerment Committee of the Supreme Court which visited the cable car site at Mubarak Mandi, Mahamaya Forests and Bagh-e-Bahu site in June this year, has submitted its report to the apex court of the country. Some land which is being acquired by the J&K Cable Car Project Corporation for the construction of rope-way trolley falls under Wild Life and Forests ( Bahu Reserve) area.
The clearance from the National Wild Life Board (NWLB) is mandatory for the execution of work on the project. The team has already paid two visits to the site and land will be transferred by the State Forest and Wild Life Departments to the J&K Cable Car Construction Corporation only after Supreme Court gives directive.
Managing Director J&K Cable Car Project Corporation, Tufail Mattoo when contacted said that the case pertaining to Mubarak Mandi-Bahu Fort cable car project has been listed by the Supreme Court on October 21. The file is expected to be cleared by the apex court. The empowered committee of the Supreme Court had visited the site. They were given all the details by the Corporation. The team was satisfied and has forwarded its report to the court.
Replying to another question, Mr Mattoo said a total 70 kanals of land is being acquired by the Corporation of which 56 kanal land belonged to Forest and Wild Life Department. Hardly 14-15 kanal of land belonged to private parties at Shahbad (Bahu Fort) and near Pir Kho.
Mr Mattoo disclosed that a compensation amount to the tune of Rs 1.86 crore has been kept at the disposal of Deputy Commissioner Jammu for the land being acquired. He admitted that some private parties had approached court to seek higher compensation, the Revenue authorities are pursuing the issue with them and it is almost said to be settled now.
Referring to the project, the MD said the work already stand allotted to Damodar Rope Way Constructions, a Kolkata based firm. Though, the project cost is Rs 40 crore but it may witnessed some escalation as the project has been delayed. Kolkata firm will construct the cable car at Bahu Fort in association with a Turkey based firm, STM Pvt Ltd having expertise in the field. He further disclosed that this ‘Gandola’ will have two phases, one from Mubarak Mandi to Mahamaya Temple across river Tawi and then from Mahamaya Temple to Bahu Fort near Shahbad. The completion target has been set as two years.
“Till now the much needed land was not with the Corporation. When the land is transferred to Corporation, the contractors will immediately start the work. They have moved some of their infrastructure/ machinery to the site and work is likely to be started within two months,” Mattoo maintained.
Director Tourism Jammu Saujanya Sharma when contacted said the base of the cable car (Gandola), will be near Peer Kho on Circular Road, the terminating point of the `Gandola’ on the other end will be closer to Bagh-e-Bahu. He said as per the guidelines of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI), no construction can be raised within 100 metes of the Mubarak Mandi Heritage site and same is the case at Bahu Fort Heritage site.
So, under these circumstances, a place much closer to Mubarak Mandi (Gole Ghar) and adjoining `Pir Kho’ (cave) has been identified. From there, a direct on- foot passage will connect Mubarak Mandi Heritage site with the cable car base, near Circular Road on Tawi side for the visitors, he added.
Mr Sharma said the nod from NWLB has been awaited and apex court has reserved its judgment. It is likely to be delivered next week as the case has been listed. He maintained that compensation to Forest Department to the tune of Rs 50 lakh said to has been paid. The payment to many private parties also stand cleared. In first year, the consortium will complete civil works and procure equipment/ cars etc. In second year, they will start assembling the imported/ procured parts and make trials on both the phases of the project. He said the project has already been delayed and now work is going to be started shortly. Environment impact study was also conducted and almost all the hurdles have now been removed. It is now in the final stage. This project has been prepared as per the guidelines of the NWLB and ASI, Mr Sharma added.
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