Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 19: The Citizen’s Forum, Jammu has appealed to the Governor, Satya Pal Malik to save Jammu from mis-management and wastage of public funds on the ill-conceived projects for Jammu city.
In a joint statement through Forum president, R K Chadha, the members said that the Forum had filed a PIL in Jammu High Court for construction of flyover from Shakuntla Cinema Chowk-Amphalla to Janipur High Court which was later converted to widening of the road up to Janipur. But after many years now, the Government has come up with this project of shifting of High Court and other subordinate courts from Janipur to Raika- Bahu Forests on Jammu Bypass Road without going into the disadvantages of the project.
Chadha said we understand the compelling reasons for the shifting of Jammu High Court but this is not the place to go for this large project. When preparing a Jammu Smart City project, the Government is doing piecemeal shifting and construction of large institutions instead of a complete one project.
Forum president further asked where is the water availability at this site for such a big institution. A similar project of Batra Hospital and Medical College at Sidhra is getting nearly 100 water tankers per day to meet the requirement of the Institution.
Referring to the environment aspects in and around Jammu city, Chadha said winter capital city presently is getting clean air due to Bahu Conservation Reserve and Ramnagar Wild Life Sanctuary. They are considered as lungs of Jammu and if over 30,000 trees are felled for this project the pollution level will be horrible in Jammu. It will ultimately lessen the life span of the people of Jammu. This place is most unsuitable and far from Jammu city. It will be problematic for litigants and lawyers as well. He said Govt must extend Jammu city beyond Kunjwani, Satwari or Bari Brahamana, the areas where water is also easily available. The Govt must also think about shifting of Ambphalla Jail, DC Office and a few other Government offices to some other suitable areas.
The signatories of the statement include-Retd ADGD SS Wazir, Dr Ravinder Madan, Dr Arun Gupta, R K Handa, S K Gupta (Retd CE), Lalit Mahajan, Arun Sharma, Anil Sethi, Ashok Parihar and others.
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