Decks cleared for city’s first ropeway project from Bag-e-Bahu and Mubarak Mandi

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 21: The much delayed Mubarak mandi-Bag-e-Bahu ropeway project may soon see the light of the day, as the Pollution Control Board (PCB) today conducted public hearing to get the feedback from people regarding the project, after which the report will be sent to Union Environmental Ministry for clearance.

The project is pending for last over a decade due to non-clearance from the union environment ministry which has raised its objection over the impact on the forested areas, falling on its way.

Sources said that the views of the people living close to the proposed project will be incorporated in the final report to be sent to centre after which the work is likely to start on the ambitious project.

The project was to be constructed on a BOT (build, operate and transfer) basis, in which the state government had to provide the land and private parties had to raise the infrastructure, operate it for 30 years or so and then transfer it back to J&K.

When completed the project will connect Mubarak Mandi, Mahamaya Termple, Bagh-e-Bahu, Bawe Wali Mata Temple, Peerkho temple allowing people to enjoy the beauty of the these places.  

According to sources from the corporation, the EIAA which was established in 2006 in Jammu and Kashmir to clear the environmentally fragile projects, had not given it consent to the ropeway citing that it will damage the environment around the area and will threaten the wildlife.

Row between state’s Environment Impact Assessment Authority (EIAA) and J&K Cable Car Corporation had threatened the ambitious 24-crore Mubarak Mandi-Bahu fort ropeway project, as despite directions by the government to start the work, the EIAA had not given its clearance to the project.

When contacted Chairman PCB, Lal Chand said, “The view of people is necessary before the environmental clearance as per the rules laid down by the government. The work can only start then. Clearance from EIAA and Union Ministry is necessary”.

Sources said that officials from the Pollution Control Board (PCB) had also raised the question on the project by saying that it falls within 10-km of the Ramnagar wildlife sanctuary.

It is pertinent to mention here that the prestigious ropeway project has faced the delay from 1996, when it was conceived by the then Farooq Abdullah government, to boost the tourist attraction in Jammu region.

             

In 2005, much hype was created by the government to start the project, but it continued to face delay due to the differences between different agencies in the state.