Patnitop ropeway project to face further delay due to doubts raised by environmental ministry

Yash Khajuria	9/7/2011 8:48:10 PM
JAMMU, Sept 7: The much-touted aerial ropeway project at Patnitop hill resort in Jammu and Kashmir, hanging fire since 2007, could face further delay with Environment Ministry seeking more details from the proponent before giving its nod. Sources said that ministry's panel on infrastructure development has asked the Nagarjuna Construction Company, which has to construct the project to seek permission from the State Chief Wildlife Warden in line with the amended Environment Impact Assessment Act. The 2.6 km-long aerial ropeway with 23 trolleys will pass through Dudu forest range and is almost one-km away from Sudhmahadev Conservation Reserve in the state and is being developed by NCCL on Behalf of the Patnitop Development Authority (PDA). The fate of the project, the first of its kind in the state involving construction and operation of a passenger aerial ropeway project and associated facilities at villages Kud-Sangote-Karla, (Patnitop) in Udhampur, has been hanging in balance since 2007. Locals have been pinning hope on the project for acceleration of developmental activities and economic growth in the localities after completion of the ropeway. Suggesting that there would be further delay, the members of the Expert Appraisal Committee has also asked the NCCL to conduct public hearing as per provisions in all the districts separately. Regarding the delay in first of his kind project which coming up at an estimated cost of Rs. 100 crore in Jammu and Kashmir Robin Singh Mehta, Director Tourism Department, Jammu, who also hold an additional charge of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PDA said that in the previous meeting with the Ministry's panel, they asked the proponent to submit clearance on infrastructure development and diverse projects from the State Chief Wildlife department, State Forest Department and also had suggested some important points to include in the proposal, in line with the amended Environment Impact Assessment Act. Over the current status of project Robin Singh Mehta has said that the proponent have completed the pending formalities and has send its proposal to the Ministry of Forest Department India and if the next gathering remains unconditional the development work on the project will start as soon as possible.