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Srinagar, Jul 26 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir government has earmarked Rs 2.90 crore for fencing and channeling wildlife sanctuaries along the Mughal road connecting Jammu with the Kashmir valley.

An official spokesman today said that this decision was taken at a meeting of Monitoring Committee for Mughal Road Project chaired by the Chief Secretary S S Kapur, here.

The amount will be spend on Hirpora, Limber and Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuaries along the Mughal Road for protection of wildlife and segregation of human habitations to prevent poaching, grazing and other illegal activities in compliance to the directions of Supreme Court.

The amount would be arranged by Roads and Buildings Department out of this year's Rs 90 crore allocation for the Mughal Road.

The amount would be utilised by the Wildlife Department after getting the plan technically vetted, he said.

In another significant decision, the meeting decided to make available five per cent of the cost of the Mughal Road to Wildlife Department for expeditious execution of Markhor conservation plan in compliance to the Supreme Court directions.

In this regard, the necessary permission from the Supreme Court would be obtained by pursuing the application filed in the Apex Court through the Advocate General.

He said the Chief Secretary called for attending the issues related to the construction of the Mughal Road on priority basis, saying the intra-regional communication link was vital for boosting the State's economy. He asked concerned agencies to speed up tempo of their assigned works to ensure timely completion of the prestigious project.

UNI BAS BDP KN1154