No lessons learnt, illegal construction on Beas riverbed continues unabated

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Ravinder Sood

Palampur, February 25

Illegal buildings are coming up on riverbeds in Palampur. The Dhauladhar ranges of the Kangra district fall in the seismic zone-V and are prone to flash floods. It looks as if people as well as the administration have not learnt any lessons from the recent flash floods in which nearly 200 people had lost their lives.

Hotels, malls and shopping complexes have come up on the banks of the Bhiral and Mol khuds, the two tributaries of the Beas passing through Palampur, without the approval of the Municipal Corporation and the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department. The construction activities are in full swing and the local authorities have turned a blind eye towards the issue. The constructions have decreased the width of the riverbeds at many places.

A retired IAS officer settled in the town, while talking to The Tribune, said there should be a ban on the construction along riverbeds. It was a matter of concern how such building plans were approved. He added that the rules should have been implemented strictly after the murder of a TCP officer in Solan a few years ago. He said there should be an independent agency, comprising a team of senior officers, to pass the building plans. The TCP officers of state must learn lessons from the recent arrest of the Town Planner of Punjab, who was held responsible for encouraging illegal construction, by the Vigilance Department.

A TCP officer said in the municipal areas, the TCP Department had limited powers to intervene and most of the building plans were approved by the civic body. He said the MC should act against the illegal construction and should not pass such building plans which were a threat to human lives. He said despite written orders terming these buildings illegal, the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited and the IPH Department granted them power and water connections.

Municipal Commissioner Ashish Sharma said the MC has already initiated action against illegal buildings in Palampur. He said that in one case a plan was approved for 13 shops, but the owners constructed 28 shops in gross violation of rules. He added that he would definitely recommend dismantling such shops as serious violations cannot be ignored.