Details

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 09 January 2018

• Lays foundation stone for Rs 27 lakh toilet complexes

 

BASHOLI: Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Choudhary Lal Singh today informed that Government has earmarked Rs. 4.5 crore for creating tourism infrastructure in Basholi constituency. “Basholi has the potential and scope of attracting tourists and the government is working hard to optimally tap this opportunity to bring this area in the most liked tourist destinations of the state”, the Minister asserted. He said that with the increase of tourist inflow here, the art of Basohli paintings and Pashmina will also get new lease of life and create employment opportunities for the local stakeholders.

 

The Minister said this while addressing one day awareness-cum demonstration camp on Solid Liquid Waste Resource management  held at Ramlila ground in  Basholi, here today. Choudhary Lal Singh said that Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) will also explore possibilities of operating water transport facilities in the lake which are not only affordable but also less time consuming, added Forest Minister.

 

For improving power scenario in Basholi , Choudhary Lal Singh said that Government has identified 7500 kanal land in the area for establishing solar light plant which will generate 200 MW solar light for the people of the constituency.  He informed that State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has prepared a detailed project report of Rs. 3.5 crore for construction of SPCB office in Basholi.    

He said that efforts are afoot to develop eco-tourism infrastructure around the Ranjit Sagar Lake to make it a major tourist destination of the state. “As a step forward towards these efforts the Forest Department is going to launch steamer service in the lake for which four steamers will be pressed into service under its eco-tourism initiative soon”, the Minister announced.

 

For providing healthy and pollution free environment to people of the Basholi constituency, the Minister said that Government has earmarked Rs 1 crore for proper disposal of Solid and Liquid Waste in Basohli Town. He said that under the project, Government has sanctioned two dustbins for each household for segregated collection of bio and solid waste. He said two auto rickshaws with trolley have been put in service for door to door waste lifting and dumping at the identified place.

Choudhary Lal Singh asked the concerned department to educate the people of the town about proper disposal of Solid and Liquid Waste by holding awareness camps. He asked the officers to immediately complete tender and other codal formalities for early start of the project in the town. He asked the Experts of Solid and Liquid Waste Management to take immediate action to ensure proper sanitation and collection of garbage from narrow streets of the town. He appealed the people to help the Government in making  Basholi town a pollution  free area.

Highlighting steps being taken up to increase tourist influx to Jasrota fort, the Minister informed that two ponds in the vicinity of Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary constructed during the reign of Jasrota Empire will be revived at an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore and the work on revival of the pristine glory of the Jasrota Fort is under progress. He said the facility of battery car will also be started soon for the convenience of visiting tourists. 

Choudhary Lal Singh said that Government has released Rs. 50 lakh for establishment of Reporting Centre and Watch Tower of Forest Protection Force at Panagar, adding that the projects are under progress and would be completed within stipulated time frame. While listing tourism infrastructure facilities being developed around Ranjit Sagar, the Minister informed that a five kilometer path will be developed along the lake having resting benches, view platforms. Earlier, the Minister laid foundation stone for two toilet complexes at Basholi, to be constructed by Municipal Committee Basholi with an estimated cost of Rs. 27 lakh within one month.

 

 

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Ravi Kesar, Chairman State Pollution Control Board B Siddhartha, Chief Wildlife Warden Manoj Panth, Director Social Forestry Ashwani Gupta, Director SFRI, B M Sharma, Director Soil Water and Conservation Javed Iqbal Punju, Director Environment and Remote Sensing O P Sharma, Chief Conservator of Forests Farooq Gillani, Managing Director State Forest Corporation, Suresh Gupta, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Gupta, Assistant Commissioner Development Rajiv Khajuria, Expert Soild, Liquid Waste Management  Zaffar Iqbal besides other senior officers of Forests, RDD, R&B, PDD and Tourism departments were present on the occasion.