Multi-level parking at Punjab and Haryana High Court set to get delayed
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 22
The construction of a multi-level parking at the Punjab and Haryana High Court is set to get delayed, as the UT Administration is yet to conduct the study for obtaining environmental and eco-sensitive clearances for the project.
The parking site falls within the eco-sensitive zone around the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary which was notified in 2017. It is also within the buffer zone of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Capitol Complex in Sector 1.
The plan
- As per the drawing submitted to the High Court in January last year, the Engineering Department has planned three underground floors. In the first phase, the parking lot will have space for over 2,800 cars. In the second phase, installation of stacks has been proposed and parking could be expanded to over 5,000 cars.
The UT Engineering Department had recently invited bids to hire a consultant to prepare an environment impact assessment report for obtaining environmental clearance and eco-sensitive clearance from the Ministry of Environment. An official concerned, however, said that it would take time to finalise the consultant.
As per the drawing submitted to the High Court in January last year, the Engineering Department has planned three underground floors. In the first phase, the parking lot will have space for over 2,800 cars. In the second phase, installation of stacks has been proposed and parking could be expanded to over 5,000 cars.
An official from the UT’s Department of Environment said a study would be required for obtaining the clearances from the Ministry of Environment.
Nearly 10,000 lawyers and litigants, with 8,000 cars, visit the High Court daily. The court has a parking space for nearly 800 cars.
On December 20, 2019, the High Court had directed the UT Administration to submit the layout for a multi-level underground parking lot, opposite the High Court Museum, within four weeks.
The directions had come after the Administration had submitted that the site falls within the eco-sensitive zone.
The High Court, however, was of the view that if parking couldn’t be constructed, how could a Tourist Information Centre come up on the same site.
It further observed that amendments could be made in the Master Plan, and questioned how a green belt could come under heritage status.
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