Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 7: Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla today said that Government has allocated an amount of Rs 19 crore to State Cable Car Corporation for execution of ropeway project from Mubarak Mandi to Bahu Fort and Maha Maya Devi Mandir across Tawi River, adding that the Cable Car Corporation is in the process of getting necessary clearance with regard to environment, wildlife and acquisition of land.
This was stated by the Minister while addressing a large gathering at a Baisakhi Milan-cum-Symposium on conservation of water resources in Jammu region, organized by Mandli Mitran Di, a Non-Governmental Organisation at Shree Baba Ambo Samarak Desathan at Bagh-e-Bahu, here today.
Member Parliament Madan Lal Sharma, Vice Chairman, OBCs, Kuldeep Verma, prominent citizens besides locals in large numbers were present on the occasion.
Mr. Bhalla informed that a Kolkata based firm, Damodar Rope Way Constructions Ltd and a Turkish firm are jointly going to start construction on the much delayed Mubarak Mandi-Bagh-e-Bahu Cable Car Project estimated to cost Rs 47 crore from next month while work on yet another Cable Car Project at Shiv Khori shrine in district Reasi is also going to commence shortly to facilitate the pilgrims.
While speaking on water conservation, the Minister said that the Government has launched various schemes for solving the problem of water scarcity in the state especially in the kandi belts wherein Government has to spend crore of rupees to cope up with the requirement of water annually.
Mr. Bhalla called upon the people to use water judiciously. He said Government is making all out efforts to meet the need of water supply requirement of city of temples people in the near future, adding that there is a plan to harness the Chenab water for consumptive purpose.
The Minister said the experts from the Central Ground Water Board Jammu Unit and the PHE Irrigation Department, who visited the state, gave a detailed report on the present status of availability of water supply and ground water status along with the various schemes in offing to cope up with the near future situation. He said they showed a great concern to the falling of water level and advised to follow the practices of water harvesting by constructing check dams, ponds and harvesting of roof water and conserve the same as a underground water for improving the water level as saving it for posterity.
Earlier, the Minister also visited Greater Jammu and W. No. 52 South Extn. in Trikuta Nagar and kick started up gradation work on lanes and drains with , for which Government has earmarked Rs. 21 lakh.
On the demand of locals, the Minister asked the Jammu Municipal Corporation to prepare estimates for construction of deep drain in both sides of the road and its widening and submit the same to ensure early start of work.
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