NHAI fined Rs 5 lakh for illegal muck dumping

Our Correspondent

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Kullu, December 13

The Forest Department has imposed a fine of Rs 5.06 lakh on the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for illegal dumping of muck along the 15-km stretch between Ramshila and Bhuntar during the four-laning of the NH-21.

Neeraj Chadha, Divisional Forest Officer, Kullu, said the department had issued a notice to the company in this regard. He said that the NHAI was dumping muck in a haphazard way causing damage to forest land and the Beas.

The DFO said the fine was imposed after the NHAI failed to submit a satisfactory reply. He said the department would check the areas where the construction work was under way and take action, if any anomalies were found.

Abhishek Rai, president of the Himalayan Environment Conservation Organisation (HECO), said many trees had been axed due to widening of the road between Kullu and Manali. He alleged that the companies executing the work were caving the sides of the hills, which could result in frequent landslides. Rai claimed some houses in Devdhar village had been damaged due to the road construction activity.

Residents of Raison, Katrain and Bashing rue road construction work led to air pollution.

Commuters between Kullu and Manali complained that no signboards had been erected along the road to caution the drivers leading to frequent accidents.

Nitin, a resident of Manali, said the road was being widened only by a few metres, which was not enough to accommodate increasing traffic.