NGT raps construction firm for dumping muck

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 14

Already running one year behind schedule, the Rs 2000-crore Kiratpur-Manali four-laning project has run into fresh trouble after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) took serious note taken of “improper dumping of muck”.

Hearing a petition filed by Madan Lal, who had alleged “improper dumping of muck” by the construction company, the NGT warned that it would be compelled to stop all works in case they did not fully comply with the law. The tribunal agreed to hear the case again on February 15 on the request of counsel of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) which assured to do the needful.

The Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board (HPPCB) placed the report of the team constituted by the National Green Tribunal to inspect the illegal dumping of muck along the NH-21. The counsel for the petitioner Madan Lal pointed out that the committee had indicated that dumpings at ‘several sites were improper.’ The tribunal, after reviewing the facts, warned the IL and FS company executing the project and the NHAI that it would be compelled to close the NH-21 project if the project proponents do not fully comply with the law.

Chairperson of the tribunal Justice Swatanter Kumar pointed out to the photographs of the report and was disappointed that even after a year of its initial order the company was not following the law.

The counsel for the project proponents pleaded with the chairperson not to stop the Rs 2000-crore project and give them time till Monday to convince the tribunal of its sincerity to address all the concerns raised in the case.

The project was scheduled to be completed in November 2015 but faced several problems, including collapse of the under-construction tunnel near Bilaspur which delayed the works.

Further, the action committee of the farmers, whose lands had been acquired for the projects, are up in arms against the government. They are demanding higher compensation for the land acquired for the project.