State notifies Road Infra Protection Act

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 6

The Haryana Government has notified the Haryana Road Infrastructure Protection Act, 2017, to provide for the prevention of misuse, damage, unauthorised use and encroachment of the road infrastructure in the state.

An official spokesman said various activities would be prohibited under this Act and these would be determined with reference to the land records maintained by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department.

He said the prohibited activities included to encroach upon government land under road infrastructure; to raise any permanent, temporary or movable structure on or from road infrastructure; to misuse a road by setting up workshop and carrying out commercial activities, including tethering of livestock on road infrastructure; to block or damage roadside drainage and cross drainage system; to divert water, sullage or muck to the road infrastructure; to stack or throw excavated earth or debris or any other material on road infrastructure; to dig or damage road infrastructure without permission from competent authority; and to install unauthorised hand pump, bore well or petrol pump on road infrastructure.

The spokesman said in case of any violation of the Act, the competent authority would take necessary steps to restore the status at the cost of the person involved in the prohibited activity, in addition to the penalty, which may extend to Rs 5,000.

He said the competent authority or the official authorised by him would have the power to remove the unauthorised occupation on the road without issuing any notice.

Any person found guilty of an offence under this Act would be punishable with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to three years, and would also be liable to fine, he added.