Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 15: Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law & Justice, Abdul Haq, today said that installation of ropeways in Paddar in Kishtwar for transporting agricultural products will benefit farmers of the area.
Replying on behalf of Minister in-charge Agriculture Production to a Calling Attention Notice of Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo in the Legislative Council, the Minister said with a view to facilitate transportation of vegetables, fruits, other agricultural products and inputs, the Agriculture Department in coordination with other concerned agencies, made an extensive survey of Paddar areas during 2007-08.
He said that it was found that farmers could be benefited by installation of ropeway trolleys as were in use in the neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand. He said accordingly, four spots/locations were identified for the proposed ropeway system.
Abdul Haq said that the PWD framed the estimates during 2007-08 for fixing of the ropeways at a total cost of Rs. 1.37 crore. He said these estimates were further recast during 2011-12 at Rs. 44.8.7 crores and accordingly administrative approval was accorded by the Agricultural Department and their execution taken-up under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).
The Minister said that 90% work on installation of 1.50 Km ropeway at Gulabgarh to Ligri with a cost of Rs 70.74 lakh has been completed and tightening and testing of ropeway is under process. He said for installation of 2.50 Km ropeway from Sohal to Chitoo the part material has been stacked at the site, while as material for installation of 5 Km ropeway from Sohal to Kabban at a cost of Rs 15.20 crore and 4 km ropeway from Sohal to Ungaie with a cost of Rs 1.29 crore has been stacked at Gulabgarh Paddar.
He said that all these four works were allotted to M/s Himcable Ways of Chandigarh during November-December 2012. The works got delayed initially as projects were to be designed by the agency and the same was to be vetted from Design Directorate which took some time. He said material was supplied in the year 2014-15 after a lot of persuasion.
Meanwhile, Mr Haq directed the District Development Commissioner Kishtwar to submit a factual report about delay in non-electrification of Padder villages, despite MLC Jugal Kishore Sharma providing Rs 30 lakhs for the same.
The Minister was intervening during Calling Attention Notice of Jugal Kishore.
Earlier, replying to the notice, the Minister of State for Power, Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi, said the electrification of un-electrified villages of Padder and its surrounding areas were taken up during 2012-13, with Rs. 30.00 lakhs provided by Jugal Kishore, MLC out of his Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
He said the department has completed the L.T. network of (3.5 km) in the extremely hilly area of Machail (Padder) while as laying of 11 KV Feeder from Gulabgarh to Machail has also been taken up and 02 km of the feeder has been completed. He further said that 50 S.T. Poles, each nine meter long, 08 ACSR Conductors and two 25 KVA Transformers have been arranged out of the available amount.
The Minister said that 21 left over un-electrified villages and 48 hamlets of Padder including the village Machail are being covered under RGGVY-II and DDUGJY schemes. He said tendering of the works is under progress and shall be taken up shortly.
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