Home Secretary asks states to review ropeway projects

New Delhi, April 12 : Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla wrote to states on Tuesday asking them to review the situation of their ropeway projects, a day after an accident in Deoghar in Jharkhand. In a letter sent to chief secretaries of all states, the Home Secretary said BIS standards have already been prescribed for operation and maintaining of ropeway projects. States have been asked to engage experienced firms to carry out safety audit of ropeway projects. A maintainance manual must me prepared for all ropeways, the Home Ministry said. It also called for a maintainance program and systematic maintenance of records. He asked states to review all ropeway projects, and to ensure SOPs, contingency plans for operation and maintenance of ropeways. He said that they should ensure that systems of safety audits are in place. States were also asked to hold mock drills, and appoint a senior officer to regularly review the projects. AO RKM