SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government is pursuing the required forest and environmental clearances for the Rs 47.42-crore Barnai-Jawdora Link Road project in Bandipora district, the Legislative Assembly was informed on Monday.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary said the 18.824-km road, being constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), would provide all-weather connectivity to Jawdora habitation.
He was responding to a Calling Attention Notice moved by MLA Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi) regarding the commencement of work on the Jawdora-Barnai road.
Choudhary said the government was coordinating with the concerned departments to resolve pending issues and complete the forest and environmental formalities required for the project.
Since the entire road alignment passes through forest land, obtaining forest clearance is mandatory before construction can begin, he said.
The project was sanctioned by the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA), Ministry of Rural Development, in 2025 at a cost of Rs 4,742.38 lakh.
The minister said the work had been tendered and allotted within the prescribed timelines, while the executing agency had already mobilised men and machinery. A temporary diversion across the Kishanganga River has also been constructed to facilitate the movement of construction resources, he added.
He said PIU Bandipora had initiated the forest clearance process and joint inspections of the proposed alignment had been conducted by the PIU and Forest Department.
The PIU is also coordinating with the Geology and Mining Department for geological analysis and the Revenue Department for identifying suitable sites for disposal of earthwork and muck, he said.
Choudhary said the proposal would be submitted on the PARIVESH portal after the required details regarding tree enumeration and forest land were received.
Work on the road will commence after the requisite forest clearance is obtained, he said.
