Girnar Mountain Ropeway Project Junagadh City News Gujarat India

Finally after a delay of almost two decades, the Girnar Mountain may get its ropeway. Gujarat State Tourism minister Jaynarayan Vyas informed the state assembly about the status of Girnar Parvat Ropeway project.

Responding to a question of Visavadar MLA Kanu Bhalala in question hour, Vyas said that through a notification dated May 31, 2008, the government has reserved land for the ropeway project in Gir forest land.

The state government has also submitted the proposal to the central government's National Wildlife Board and the Board too has decided to take up the issue after site visit. "We had several meetings with the central forest & environment minister for the project also. We are hopeful of getting clearance soon and the project is likely to start by 2011.''

The ropeway project will be undertaken by Usha brecko Company at the cost of Rs89.31 crore. GPCC president Siddharth Patel said: "I and leader of opposition have also met the central forest and environment minister and requested them to clear the project at the earliest.''

Girnar Mountain Ropeway Rahul Gandhi Junagadh City News Gujarat India

Rahul Gandhi Summons Junagadh Congress Men for Girnar Rope Way Issue.

In a youth vision program 2010 held to import training to congress elected office bearers in the presence of all India congress general secretary Shri Rahul Gandhi at Koba of Gandhinagar from 19-1-10 to 22-1-10 the team of representation to Shri Rahul Gandhi regarding the issues of Girnar Mountain Ropeway dark zone, railway forest department and fishermen.

In present to this Rahul Gandhi invited the youth congress worker.

The youth team of Junagadh City Gujarat also explained to Shri Rahul Gandhi as to in what way the central government would be helpful in connection with the above issues. In this context Shri Rahul Gandhi Summoned five members of youth congress and three

Remember of Junagadh Municipal Corporation to Gandhi in Issue of Girnar Parvat Ropeway and asked congress secretary Shri Jintendra Sinh to take up the matter, with the union forest suitable action for getting the sanction for the same.

Girnar Mountain Parvat Hill Ropeway Project News Gujarat India

Ramesh to visit Mount Girnar to take stock of ropeway project.

With the environmental panel’s nod, the ropeway project at Mount Girnar in Junagadh now awaits the green signal from the Wildlife Panel, appointed by the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment — following objections by the National Board of Wildlife.

Union Minister for Forest and Environment Jairam Ramesh is likely to visit Junagadh to take stock of the situation before the Wildlife Panel takes its decision. The minister’s visit will focus on the project’s impact on the vulture population in the region, given its importance as a roosting and nesting centre.

He is scheduled to conduct a survey of the site. S K Nanda, state Principal Secretary, Forest and Environment, said: “The minister is likely to visit on December 5. He will check if the project threatens the birds.”

Over 7 hectares of forest area has been diverted for the project at an investment of Rs 89.31 crore, which has raised many eyebrows. Ropeway service cabins by Usha Breco Limited, each with a capacity of eight passengers, will pass over 1,700 meters of forest land. The ropeway, with a capacity of 1,000 passengers per hour, will start from the Girnar foothills and terminate near the Ambaji Temple at the top of mountain. Though the company and the Forest Department have carried out compensatory afforestation on 7 hectares in Toraniya plot, environmental groups have expressed apprehension over the damage to ecology.

According to the Gir Nature Club, vulture is a Schedule-I bird and the project will cause disturbance. Planned in 1968, the project has been delayed for various reasons.

After a foundation stone was laid by Chief Minister Narendra Modi in 2007, the National Board for Wildlife had deferred its decision to approve the state government project in spite of the strong representation by the state in its favor. Home to the Asiatic lions, Girnar forest is spread across 1,800 square kilometer.

It includes Mount Girnar, which is an important pilgrimage place, especially for the Jain community. Earlier, a section of Jains was against the project as the ropeway service would commercialize an important religious site.

Historical Girnar Temples Mountain Ropeway Project Junagadh Gujarat India

Girnar Ropeway Project - Sadhus to take to streets over delay in project.

Junagadh-based All India Sadhu Samaj has decided to take to the streets over the delay in the implementation of the aerial Ropeway project at Mount Girnar. Some 45 renowned Sadhus, Mahants and temple heads of the region will lead the ‘Rasta-Roko’ (road block) agitation at Vanthali Gate area of the city on Friday.

Political parties, including BJP, Congress, CPM and BSP, various youth organizations and NGOs will also take part in the protest to register their support. Remove Formatting from selection

All India Sadhu Samaj (Gujarat Chapter) president Mahant Gopalanand said: “Despite being cleared at various stages, the Ropeway project is being delayed for some reason or the other. Moreover, no political leader is coming forward to take up the issue. So, we have decided to raise the issue with the support of all sections of the society.”

He added: “After the agitation, office bearers of our New Delhi head office will take up the issue with the concerned minister and department.”

While supporting the move of the All India Sadhu Samaj, Satish Captain, Mayor, Junagadh Municipal Corporation, said: “We have already taken up the issue with the concerned authorities. We have written letters asking them to speed up the project.”

City BJP president, Karsan Dhadook, said: “The BJP is supporting the agitation. We will give them full support as joint efforts are needed for the realization of this project.”

Dhadook, however, accused the Congress of politicizing the issue. “The ball is now in the Center court.

If Congressmen put pressure on the party, there is a chance of the project being implemented soon,” he said. A meeting, presided over by the Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh, will be held in New Delhi on September 10 to discuss the pros and cons of the project.

“If we fail to submit our case, the ropeway project will never see light of the day,” Dhadook said, adding that the BJP is planning to start a signature movement in support of the project.

Meanwhile, leaflets bearing the names of the mahants,

Organizations and individuals participating in the agitation were distributed in Junagadh on Wednesday, asking the general public to support Friday’s agitation.

Girnar Hill Mountain Parvat Temple Junagadh(Saurastra) Gujarat

Cracks appear in Sudarshan pond parapet.

Reports of cracks appearing in the parapets of Sudarshan pond sent officials of district administration and Junagadh Municipal Corporation into a tizzy on Wednesday. Inspection on the site did reveal cracks, however, no calamity was reported.

According to district administration officials, incessant rains in the valley of mount Girnar from Wednesday morning inundated Sudarshan pond, located at Bhavnath.

"Residents around the pond were asked to evacuate and the road from Girnar Darwaja to Bhavnath was blocked for some time. However, a major calamity was averted as the rains stopped," said JMC commissioner R M Sharma.

Meanwhile, a retired officer of roads and buildings department of JMC attributed the damage to the wall to random digging by the JMC. "In the past, JMC officials had done substantial amount of digging around the parapets of pond for creating parking lot or erecting stage for cultural programmes during fate. This has done great damage to the pond, causing near calamity like situation," said J N Vasavada.