Shimla: Taking tough stand on encroachments on Kalka to Shimla and Shimla to Dharamshala national highways, the hon’ble state High Court has directed the Union and the State Government to file a fresh status report on the existing and removed encroachments.
Taking suo motu notice of a news report over the encroachments, a division bench of Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Tarlok Singh Chauhan pulled up authority for not taking action against the encroachment. During the course of hearing, encroachment on national highway was brought to the notice of the court near Solan. The Court was informed that building was construct in gross violation of all permissions as against permission of 4+1 storeys 7½ storeys were being raised.
The Himachal High Court sought explanation from the authorities concerned as to why prosecution/ contempt proceedings and proceedings under the Prevention of Corruption Act should not be initiated against them for not taking action right from October 28, 2015, when it was brought to the notice of the court that constructions were being raised on both sides of the Kalka – Shimla Road, particularly in and around Barog, and in Solan district.
Listing the matter for next hearing on September 5, the Hon’ble Court also directed the state chief secretary, the director general of police and the engineer-in-chief of the PWD to provide sufficient manpower to the National Highway Authority to enable it to draw action and remove all encroachmen’blets in and around the national highways.
