*BJP MLC asks MoS to expose name of contractor
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 12: Minister of State (MoS) for Tourism, Culture and School Education Priya Sethi today claimed that Sangote-Patnitop Cable Car Project is being completed by December this year while Peer Kho- Bahu Fort Ropeway Project will be completed by June this year.
While replying to the question of BJP Member Ashok Khajuria in the Upper House today, the Minister said that construction of Ist stage of the project from Sangote to Patnitop is under execution. He said the agency was finalized after floating of tenders published in both National and State level news papers. Only one company participated in the tender for the project on Built Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis. As the response was poor, the date for tender was also extended but again only one company participated. This project was got approved by the State Cabinet being single tender.
The BJP member pressed the Minister to name the middleman and the contractor or agency whom the tender was provided. He said which is that `BOOT company’ or the people behind and the contractor who was offered this contract. The people who committed fraud and caused loss to the Government exchequer what action was taken against them ?
Sethi, however, avoided the full reply and maintained that the work was allotted to M/s Empyrean Skyview Projects ( P) Ltd on BOOT basis and the work was under execution at Patnitop. It will be constructed with the cost of Rs 1.20 crore. Khajuria surprisingly, did not press much for the reply to the minister.
Referring to another question she disclosed that Mantalai-Sudhmahadev and Patnitop are being developed as independent tourist destinations in Jammu region at cost of Rs 97.82 crore under the “Integrated Develo-pment of Tourist Facilities at Mantalai-Sudhmahadev-Patnitop Circuit.”
An International Yoga Centre, Heliport with security fencing, wellness spa with Ayurveda complex, traditional India spa, Jogging track, eco-log huts, with Eco Park and herb garden etc will be developed there at Mantalai.
Responding to question on Jammu Ropeway Project, the Minister said that this project is being developed in two phases. Phase Ist is from Peer Kho (near Mubarak Mandi) to Mahamaya Park ( length 1137 mts) and Phase II from Mahamaya Park to Shahbad near Bagh-e-Bahu, (length 453 mts) has been taken up in hand at the cost of Rs 60 crore. The work on this project is on progress and will be completed by June 2018.
Sethi claimed that during this year the BJP-PDP Coalition Govt will provide gifts of two Cable Car Projects to the people of Jammu region.
She said in addition to above, an amount of Rs 26 crore annually under Capex Budget is being provided for promotion of tourism related activities in Jammu region.
Follow our WhatsApp channel