Expert panel to consider entire Shimla Greater Area

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 26

The expert committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to assess the carrying capacity of Shimla hills to regulate further expansion while ensuring environmental balance will consider the entire Shimla Greater Planning Area, extending to the periphery under its ambit.

The expert committee headed by Deepak Sanan, Additional Chief Secretary, Forest and Environment, held its first meeting here today with all the experts giving in their inputs. Since the deadline of eight weeks from October 20, 2015 set by the NGT for submission of the report expires by December 10, the state government has decided to seek three months time from the court completing and compiling the exhaustive report.

“At the first meeting today, we took the views of all the members and decided to collect data based on information from various secondary sources. We also intend to undertake site inspections and seek opinion of various stakeholders,” said Sanan. He added that the committee will be meeting again in on December 15 at New Delhi to examine the issue minutely.

Interestingly, the expert committee will prepare its report not just for the 17 designated no-construction green belts but for the periphery areas right up to Shoghi, Jubbarhatti, Junga and Ghannati, as these areas are witnessing very swift and haphazard growth. The committee also provided copy of the earlier Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study undertaken by the Department of Environment, Science and Technology to the all the members.

Sources said some of the members were of the opinion that banning constructions was not the solution as the growing needs of the town have to be met, which can of course be regulated and be along scientific lines. It is based on this report that the NGT could take a final view on allowing construction not just in the 17 green belts but even in the adjoining areas, as being contemplated by the state government.

The NGT had directed the setting up of an expert committee on a petition filed by Yogendra Mohan Sengupta. In its order on May 30, 2015, the NGT had restrained the state government and Shimla Municipal Corporation from permitting any construction activity in the 17 green belts notified on December 7, 2000.

One of the main reason cited by the NGT in its orders was that Shimla has already gone much beyond its carrying capacity. The state government was contemplating giving some relaxation in these 17 no-construction zones of the town, resulting in Sengupta moving NGT to stop such concessions.

The other members include representative of the National Disaster Management Authority, senior scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and Institute of Himalayan Research Research, ecological expert from the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, a Professor from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, State Town Planner and the Director, Town and Country Planning as its Member, Secretary.