Notice to Centre, state government

Vijay Arora

Shimla, June 20

The HP High Court today issued notice to the Central and the state governments on the issue of poor condition of road in Kinnaur.

A division Bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan also issued notices to the Director General, Border Road Organization (BRO), and two private firms and directed them to file their replies within four weeks.

The court passed this order on a PIL filed by Nirmal Chander Negi, a local resident, alleging that people of tribal district of Kinnaur were facing problems, inconvenience and danger to their lives almost every day while travelling on the national highway 22 from Chaura to Kaurik.

It was further contended that this was the only lifeline connecting the tribal and border district of Kinnaur and Spiti block.

It was further alleged that the national highway was in neglected state of affairs.

The petitioner further alleged that this road was not only the lifeline of the tribal area but also a strategic road for military purpose. Due to active and heavy landslides, travelling on this road had become very dangerous and risky.

It alleged that during the past few years, the portion from Wangtoo to Karcham was damaged by the JP Company which undertook construction of Karcham Wangtoo Hydel Project.

The petitioner also contended that the portion of the NH beyond Powari to Kaurik was with the BRO and it had started widening of the national highway in 2010 ant the work was awarded to Singla Company.

The company was to complete the work by 2013, but to no avail. The contract awarded to the company was of 300 crore. It was further alleged that due to indiscriminate, erratic and unscientific blasting carried out by the respondents, the strata of the portion on national highway from Powari to Pooh has also been badly damaged.