'Mubarak Mandi ropeway project to be started after clearances'

Jammu and Kashmir government today said that the construction of the Mubarak Mandi ropeway project in the city will be taken up after receiving forest, wildlife and environmental clearances.
Minister for Tourism G A Mir said that the J-K Cable Car Corporation, which has been entrusted with the construction of Rs 40 crore Mubarak Mandi-Maha Maya-Shahbad ropeway project, was in the process of getting necessary clearances .
Mir was replying to a question from National Conference legislator Ajat Shatru and Congress MLC Jugal Kishore.
The minister informed that the application for environmental clearance has been moved before Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and a public hearing has been conducted by the J-K Pollution Control Board, which is the pre-requisite for the clearance.

He said that on the recommendation of the State Board of Wildlife headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the National Board of Wildlife has also forwarded the project for the clearance and now the permission of Supreme Court is needed.
The minister further said the issue was also pursued with the Forest Advisory Committee for the clearance.

Mir said that the project involves the acquisition of private land at Shahabad and the award has been issued by the Collector Land Acquisition.
But the land owners have moved to the High Court and the matter was pursued, he added.
Giving details about the work done on the project so far, the Minster said that Damodar Ropeway Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, Kolkata has been selected in the tendering process supported by RITES India Pvt Ltd, adding, the letter of intent has been issued in favour of the company.

Power Development Department (PDD) has also started realignment of their infrastructure for the implementation of the project, he added.
Replying to a supplementary question on the date of completion of the project, Mir said no calendar can be fixed for the completion.
Though, he said they were expecting an environment clearance report from the SC very shortly.
Ropeways at Patnitop and Shiv Khori in the city were also under consideration, minister added.