Bandipora, Aug 22 : Minister for Public Works, Naeem Akhtar today said that Rs 134 crore protection works on Bonar and Madhumati streams will go a long way in boosting the tourism potential of the district as it will add parks, scenic spots and other areas of attractions along their banks.
The project has been taken up for making the streams ready to handle the enhanced water discharge from Kishan Ganga Hydro Electric Project (KGHEP).
The Minister was speaking at the review of the project on which the work is going apace. The Meeting was attended by commissioner secretary I&FC, CE I&FC, officials of NHPC and other officials.
The Minister said that the entire project will enhance the tourism potential of the district by creating scenic spots all across the streams. He directed the officials to take inputs from the architects and landscape experts so that the beautification of the entire stretch of area will be in tune with natural surroundings. The Minister said that with the beautification of the area, the entire district will become a major attraction for tourists.
The officials said that with the commissioning of 330 MW KGHEP, the water flow in Bonar and Madhumati streams will increase substantially and to deal with the perennial flow of water safely and smoothly, the I&FC department, Kashmir has been entrusted with the job of constructing the protection works along the embankments and bed of these Nallahs. The detailed project report amounting to the tune of Rs 134.87 crore was framed and submitted by the I&FC department Kashmir to the NHPC authorities and accordingly was technically and financially approved by the NHPC authorities. The project involves strengthening and training 8 km length of streams.
Simultaneously a secondary plan for the beautification of the banks of these nallahs as well as for creation of the public utility cum picnic spots is being followed, the officials said. The Minister directed the officials to expedite the works to complete them before the commissioning of the project. The officials said that a piece of land measuring almost 10 Kanals at Sonarwani and another piece of land measuring about 20 Kanals of land near Kaloosa bridge are being are being retrieved for recreational purposes.
Of the seventy works tendered for the project, two have been completed and work is at different stages of completion on the rest of the works.
The under construction protection works have been devised in such a way so as to serve the purpose of protection and to look aesthetically beautiful, the officials further said.
While briefing the Minister about the projects, the officials said that several areas have been identified for creation of parks and scenic spots on the banks of the nallahs. They said that the fast moving water with the background of beautiful mountains would provide an idle setting for both local and foreign tourists. They said that there is huge potential of adventure tourism, fishing and other areas of activity.
Almost seventy (70) number of protection works were advertised in the first instance for the protection of banks and bed of Bona and Madhumati Nallah. In view of the targeted commissioning of the KGHEP project in November 2017, all attention is one the completion of these protection works in time and significant progress is being achieved in this regard.
