Satluj report clearance by May 15,says Jairam

As part of a comprehensive plan for cleaning of Punjab rivers,Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh today assured Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal that the pending detailed project report (DPR) of Jalandhar town under phase-II of National River Conservation Plan for Satluj would be cleared May 15.

Ramesh gave the assurance in a meeting with Badal,who called on him along with Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal here this afternoon. The Union minister asked NRCD Director Brajesh Sikka to allow the state to carry out works in the 22 towns subject to the condition of submission of final DPRs according to the revised guidelines issued by the ministry.

Ramesh also assured that he would convene a special meeting to clear the state government’s proposal for diversion of 9.306 hectares of forest land for construction of a 200-ft-wide toll free road from Mullanpur up to T-Junction of Kurali-Siswan road in Mohali at the earliest.

Ramesh also agreed to the proposal put forth by the Chief Minister to develop Deer Safari and expand Mini Zoo Bir Talab in Bathinda. He said he would take up the matter with Central Zoo Authority for the approval of master plan submitted by the Chief Wildlife Warden of Punjab and directed the Inspector General Wildlife AK Srivastava to expedite the matter.