Bhawan-Bhairon ropeway project on cards

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, July 7: In a significant decision to provide more facilities to the pilgrims especially the aged and infirm, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has, in principle, decided to go for a ropeway project from Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan to Bhairon Ghati.
At present, very few yatris could undertake pilgrimage to Bhairon Ghati in view of steep ascending track of two kms from the Bhawan. Even though the distance between Bhawan to Bhairon Ghati is just two kms, it was due to treacherous track that many pilgrims especially the elders were unable to visit Bhairon temple, which has quite religious significance in the pilgrimage of Vaishno Devi as the legend was that pilgrimage of only those yatris, who pay obeisance to Bhairon Baba on return, would be complete.
The project to link Bhairon Ghati with Vaishno Devi Bhawan via ropeway was hanging for past several years.
However, according to official sources, the SMVDSB has finally decided to go ahead with the project keeping in view the convenience it would add to a large number of pilgrims visiting holy cave. As the ropeway could take only few pilgrims, the project wouldn’t affect ponneywallahs and mules.
Sources said a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on ropeway project is in the final stage. The project would be implemented only after a detailed study to ensure that there was no adverse impact on environment.
The elderly pilgrims, who were unable to visit Bhairon Ghati due to steep ascent, would be able to pay obeisance to Bhairon Baba once the ropeway project is completed, sources said.
Meanwhile, about 38.62 lakh pilgrims have visited holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji during first half of 2009 as compared to 38.68 lakh yatris, who paid obeisance to Goddess Vaishno Devi, during first six months of last year.
The yatra was down in the month of June by about 1.5 lakh. While 11.18 lakh yatra was recorded in June last year, this year the figure came down to 9.65 lakh. Last year, the SMVDSB authorities had allowed even 40,000 yatris to proceed to the shrine in a day in the month of June while this year, the pilgrimage was restricted between 30,000 to 33,000.
By the end of April, the yatra was up by about 2.7 lakh from the last year. However, in the month of May, especially after violence in parts of Punjab and Haryana leading to disruption in train traffic for a couple of days, the yatra went down by about 1.45 lakh reducing total increase to just 1.32 lakh.
Decline in the yatra in the month of June has, for the first time this year, reduced the number of total yatra by few thousand as compared to first six months of last year.
However, the SMVDSB authorities were confident that in the upcoming months especially July and August, the pilgrimage would again pick up.
In April this year, 6.99 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine against 6.23 lakh last year while in March 2009, the number of yatris was 6.73 lakh against 6.18 lakh in March 2008. In January and February this year, 4.14 lakh and 2.97 lakh yatris paid their obeisance to the Goddess as compared to 3.40 lakh and 2.25 lakh respectively in the corresponding months last year.

Basic work going on at rapid pace
Geological tests for 2nd stage of Baglihar by Dec

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, July 7: The geological tests for the second stage of Baglihar Hydro Electric Project on River Chenab in Ramban district will be completed by the end of current year to pave the way for gearing up of other activities required for beginning of the work on the project.
Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that ever since the completion of 450 Mega Watt first stage of Baglihar Power Project in the month of October last year, the Jai Parkash Industries has been carrying out basic work for second stage of the project which will also generate 450 MW of electricity thereby raising the total generation from the entire project to 900 MW.
To check stability of the rocks, the JP Industries has been carrying out investigation at many places for the past several months and so far it has created 131.5 metre long added (tunnel), 30 metre long gullet between proposed transformer and machine halls and 80 per cent work on 121 meter long gullet for machine hall, the sources said, adding the work on carving out 100 meter long gullet for transformer hall will begin shortly.
The gullet works will be completed within next one or two months and thereafter the Jai Parkash Industries will begin geological tests to check stability of the rocks, they said, adding all sorts of geological tests will be completed by December to pave the way for formation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) and other formalities required to kick-start the work on second stage of prestigious and first State owned mega power project.
“Keeping in view the success achieved during excavation for investigation purpose so far, it seems that there would not be any problem vis-a-vis stability of rocks. However, the real picture will emerge only after the geological tests”, the sources said, adding “if the rocks withstand geological tests, the tunnels carved out for the investigation purpose will later form the part of second stage of project”.
This is for the second time that investigation for second stage of Baglihar Hydro Electric Project is being conducted as the earlier investigation didn’t yield any positive result and rocks turned weak forcing JP Industries, whose contract, signed during 2002, also includes second stage of project, to go in for another investigation.
According to the sources, Power Development Corporation (PDC) has projected Rs 2474 crore cost of the second stage of the project excluding interest on loans during construction. However, the exact cost of the project would be worked out only after the formation of Detailed Project Report (DPR).
It may be recalled that the first stage of the project was inaugurated by Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh on October 10, 2008 and since then electricity is being generated upto project’s full capacity.

Cabinet expansion this week

Excelsior Correspondent

NEW DELHI, July 7: Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, president J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) called on Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah here today.
The duo discussed the matter related to the working of the Coalition Government in Jammu and Kashmir and initiatives to strengthen it. The expansion of Council of Ministers was also discussed.
According to a handout issued by National Conference media cell, the two leaders believed to have finalised the list of legislators to be sworn in as Ministers.
The discussion between the two leaders has paved the way for the expansion of the Council of Ministers which is now likely this week, the handout added..