The passenger aerial ropeway project initiated by the Patnitop Development Authority and endorsed by the State Government has run into difficulty from the very beginning. A PIL case was filed before the Supreme Court of India by an NGO as a result of which the court had imposed stay on its construction until clearance under proper rules was given. Now the Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court has decided to conduct inspection of the site before according clearance to the construction of much-talked about passenger aerial ropeway at hill resort of Patnitop.
Patnitop commands extremely scenic view of dense forest on both sides and the NH1 meanders through the terrain. For quite some time, Patnitop has gradually come up a fascinating tourist spot in Jammu region. It is a cool resort mostly visited by the citizens of Jammu during summer season. Moreover since it lies on the main national highway to Srinagar, Patnitop has become a place of much interest. State Tourism Department has already undertaken its development and the Patnitop Development Authority have been put in charge of its overall development. This is one spot of which Jammu can be really proud of.
As far as the passenger aerial ropeway at Patnitop is concerned, the idea was borrowed by the previous governments that on the pattern of such ropeway in some of the European countries, especially Switzerland, could be built on Patnitop. The essential reason has been that the contemplated ropeway would command extremely scenic view of the vast forestry. In terms of physical features there is nothing amiss about the spot. However, the Supreme Court needed to make sure that it would not be source of environmental hazard or a threat to the wildlife sanctuary if it were to pass over the identified areas. The overall problem with our tourist spots in the State is their proper maintenance. Though the Tourist Department has adequate manpower and staff to maintain the tourist resort yet on the ground it has been found that most of these employees are either unskilled and ill-trained or prone to shirking work. The result is that many beautiful tourist spots have lost their shine and glitter. If the same formula applies to the contemplated Patnitop aerial ropeway, it could prove disastrous. It is in the background of this situation that the Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court has decided to conduct inspection of site before according clearance to the construction of much-talked about passenger aerial ropeway at hill resort of Patnitop. The inspection is likely to be conducted within a month of the order. From knowledgeable sources, it is learnt that the PDA has furnished all the documents which the Patnitop Development Authority was asked to produce before the Supreme Court panel and has prayed for vacation of stay. In fact it is not only the Patnitop aerial ropeway project that is under the consideration at the level of the Supreme Court. Apex Court’s Central Empowered Committee has some more cases of clearance pending with it that pertain to other parts of the country. As such the Apex Court has adopted a uniform policy of how these issues can be solved.
We hope that the Committee constituted by the Apex Court of the country will take proper decision at its own time and after inspecting the site will pass on quick orders of giving clearance to the project. Nothing but the threat of unbalancing the environment will hopefully stand between the Empowered Body and the ground situation. Jammu region has many more tourism spots but these have remained unexplored either owing the vagaries of human nature or those of the apathy on the part of the elected representatives of the people. The State will need to cater to the requirements of indigenous tourists and explore and exploit new tourist spot to generate employment and economy of the people.
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