The Jagson International company, which is constructing an aerial ropeway on the Jakhu hill, has thrown another unpleasant surprise to the Government. It has sought permission to build two more storeys over the existing 11-storey supporting tower for the ropeway.

About three years ago, after special permission from the Government, the multi-storey project was allowed to come up in the ‘core area’ of Shimla, where fresh construction is banned. This area has dense deodar forests and is ecologically fragile.

Now that the 11-storey supporting tower has already been built, the company has reviewed its plan and wants to raise its height from the permissible 39.5 metres to around 45.5 metres. In its application, the company says: “Raising the height will save at least 11 green trees from getting cut.”

Twenty six trees have already been felled to raise the building. The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) had given permission to cut 31 green trees for the project. According to the present estimate quoted by the company, if the height of the structure is not raised, in all 37 trees would be required to be cut.

The sudden review of the construction plan at this stage has raised many questions on the intentions of the developers. This has also left the Government in a tricky situation — it will now have to opt between allowing additional floors and cutting six more trees.

“We propose to install all equipment and heavy machinery for operating the ropeway on the top floors, for which more height is required. It will prevent cutting of 11 more trees, as 26 have already been cut. An application has been submitted to the Government and the response is awaited,” said Virender Kumar Gupta, operation and technical manager of the ropeway project, at Jagson International.

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