NHAI told to remove encroachers from Baddi-Nalagarh highway

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, March 15

With a plethora of complaints pertaining to encroachments on the National Highway (NH-21A) being received by the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Development Authority (BBNDA), officials today directed the Project Director, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), to take immediate action in such cases.

The BBNDA yesterday issued three show-cause notices to a BJP leader, Hansraj Chandel, and his kin for having constructed unauthorised sheds along the highway at Khera, Nalka and Kripalpur in violation of the TCP Act, 1977. Since the acquisition of land on this highway is under way, the construction of additional structures after the survey will push up the cost of acquisition.

With the award of land for the 17.6-km stretch from Baddi to Nalagarh failing to be finalised yet, unscrupulous elements are trying to grab a higher compensation by erecting such structures.

Chief Executive Officer, BBNDA, KC Chaman, while terming it a serious issue, said the regulating authorities and the NHAI had become a spectator to these illegal activities.

He also stated that officials of the NHAI had ceased to act to check these encroachments.

Directing the Project Director, NHAI, to proceed lawfully against all such offenders, the CEO said encroachment cases should be filed before the competent authority without any further loss of time.

The BBNDA had to follow a tedious procedure against such offenders which included issuance of a show-cause notice and then waiting for the reply before initiating action.

NHAI officials on the other hand could initiate speedier action to remove such unauthorised constructions.

The BBNDA has also apprised the Deputy Commissioner, SDM, Nalagarh, and Assistant Engineer, NH, of the issue in a bid to ensure that such unauthorised activity could be effectively checked.