Temple ropeway plan hangs in mid-air

President of the Trust, Dattatray Gaikwad, said, 8220;We have no option but to approach the chief minister and table our long-pending demand before him, as the PMC has not yet given us the necessary permission and the no-objection certificate NOC. We have been demanding the ropeway for three years now.8221;

As told by the trustee members, the ropeway project is to be fully funded by the city-based Usha K Jolley Trust. The approximate cost is between Rs 1 crore and Rs 1.5 crore. A Kolkata-based company will do the installation work.

8220;We held a number of meetings with PMC and its heritage committee, which also comprises, among others, environmentalists. But the committee is not ready to give the go ahead, saying the ropeway was not necessary and that it would create environmental problems,8221; said Gaikwad.

When contacted, Shyam Dhavale of PMC8217;s heritage committee said, 8220;Some heritage committee members have reservations on the plan. If a ropeway is set up, parking facility has to be extended considerably, as it would automatically attract more people. The rush would hurt the environment around the temple and slowly turn it into a kind of commercial complex. That is why the committee members are not willing to give the approval.8221;