Himachal to probe Jakhu ropeway project

Dharamsala: The Himachal Pradesh Government will order a probe into
the payment of Rs. 35 lakh for afforestation by the government
instead of by the company building ropeway at Jakhu in Shimla, Chief
Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal told the Assembly on Friday.

In reply to a question of an Independent, Rakesh Pathania, Mr. Dhumal
said that the matter of Jagson company, which was building the
ropeway at Jakhu, not paying the money for plantation against cutting
of trees for ropeway would be inquired. On the other hand, Himachal
Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation was spending Rs.35 lakh for
the purpose.

The Chief Minister said it would also be probed that how, in the
first case, the ropeway project was allotted in the heritage zone.

In normal situation, the company should have paid for plantation of
trees, Mr. Dhumal said, adding the probe would look into if norms
were not violated. --PTI