Jakhu ropeway to see light of day

“Agency constructing the Jakhu Ropeway has sought permission to add another storey to the existing 11-storied supporting tower (structure) that would raise the tower’s height from 39.5 metres to 45.5 metres. The company has represented to the government that building the ropeway at the present height and alignment would involve cutting of five more trees and lopping of 92 trees,but adding another storey would bring down the numbers,” said the Chief Secretary,while talking to mediapersons in Shimla today.

Replying to a question,she said that further permission would be given after studying the strength of the structure to bear the extra load and a clearance from the office of the ropeway inspector. “At this stage,it is not feasible to knock down the structure that has been built,” she added.

After special permission from the government following intervention of the High Court,during the previous Congress regime,the multi-storey project was allowed to come up in ‘core area’ of Shimla,where fresh construction is banned.

The Chief Secretary also informed that 21 more ambulances would be added to the fleet of the state government’s free ambulance service on February 15. “The free ambulance service scheme — Atal Swasthya Sewa — available on ‘108’ telephone number is not only for medical emergencies but is also helpful in rescuing people out of other emergencies and law and order problems. Calls received on 108 call centre have resulted in registering of 529 police FIRs,giving response in 814 cases of pregnancies,617 cardio and respiratory emergencies and 290 road accident cases. At least 14 child births were handled in the equipped ambulances,” said the Chief Secretary.

Later,Finance Secretary Ajay Tyagi informed that show-cause notice has been served on two erring firms for mismanagement in Central government project for e-governance to set up Lok Mitra Kendras in panchayats. Finance Secretary Ajay Tyagi said,“Two firms,Zoom and GNG,have been served show-cause notice for not being able to roll out 80 per cent of the Lok Mitra Kendras till October 2010 and failure to make all the listed services available”.