Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 24: Uncertainty continues to prevail over the completion of much-talked about artificial lake project as the balance funds to the tune of Rs 19 crore have not been released till date while as no specific time-frame has been fixed for the restoration of historic Mubarak Mandi complex.
The construction of gated barrage across river Tawi for creation of artificial lake near Belicharana was taken by for construction by PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Department during the year 2010-11 with an estimated cost of Rs 70 crore.
An amount of Rs 51.10 crore has been released and funds to the tune of Rs 48.16 crore expended till date while as no decision has so far been taken on making available balance amount of Rs 19 crore. “The work is in progress and likely to be completed by the end of current financial year subject to availability of balance funds”, Tourism Minister, G A Mir informed the Legislative Assembly today.
It is pertinent to mention here that Minister for Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma recently took up the matter of release of balance funds and additional funds required for strengthening of the embankments of the river with the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah but till date no progress has been made as such uncertainty prevails over the completion of this ambitious project, which otherwise is of immense importance for tourism promotion in Jammu.
Similar is the fate of restoration of historic Mubarak Mandi complex where work is going on at a snail’s pace.
Failing to give any specific time-frame for completion of work on the complex, the Tourism Minister said, “the implementation period for the projects sanctioned for the Mubarak Mandi heritage complex generally ranges from 3 to 5 years”.
Stating that conservation/renovation works of complex is highly delicate in nature and time consuming as its work being carried through skilled manpower without changing the original look of the building, the Minister said, “the Archaeological Survey of India has been entrusted with execution of projects besides M&W Wing of Directorate of Tourism, Jammu has also been given some components of the project to expedite implementation of the project”.
About the development of Surinsar lake as a tourist spot, the Tourism Minister said that Union Tourism Ministry has sanctioned a project at a cost of Rs 481.86 lakh for providing budgeted accommodation, kiosks/café, PC, view points and allied facilities for the tourists.
“Under State Plan the tourist infrastructure in shape of reconstruction of damaged road, kiosks, PC, development of park, view points, lake fencing, strengthening of wooden jetties has also been provided for development of Surinsar lake”, the Minister said.
He informed that as many as 56 projects have been sanctioned for Jammu province under Central funding amounting Rs 235.42 crore. Twenty three projects have been completed and the remaining 33 are at various stages of completion. Besides to supplement the Central funding annually on an average Rs 25 crore are being provided under State Plan for raising of tourist related infrastructure in Jammu province.
About the pilgrim tourism in Jammu province, the Minister said that so far 14 major projects worth Rs 55.44 crore have been sanctioned under Central Financial Assistance in Jammu region besides many shrines have been covered under State Plan.
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