A team of Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board (HPPCB) visited the Kaithlighat—Dhali four-lane construction sites near Shimla on Saturday to verify the facts of the complaint of illicit dumping by the construction company.
A complaint has been filed by the representatives of nine panchayats to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and HPPCB against S.P. Singla Construction Company, engaged by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), for alleged dumping of muck damaging fields, grasslands, grazing lands, forests, water sources and common paths.
Kissan Sabha leaders, Veena Mehta and Sushil, who are leading the Panchayat representatives, said , “ The NHAI authorities have engaged Singla construction company to complete the Kaithlighat-Dhalli four-lane project being built at the cost of Rs 1850 crores , but the company is carrying illegal dumping from Kaithlighat to Shakrala, causing damage to agricultural land, water sources and forest land.”
The public representatives, led by State President of HP Kissan Sabha Dr Kuldeep Tanwar, in a memorandum submitted to the PCCF and HPPCB, have also accused the Forest Department and HP Pollution Control Board of not taking cognisance of the illegal act of the company and sitting with their eyes closed.
They had alleged in the memorandum, “That due to illegal dumping of debris for the construction of 16.5 km Kaithlighat-Dhali, serious damage has been caused to the ecology and environment of the area, causing pollution, besides adversely affecting the livelihood of local people.”
Kisan Sabha President Dr Kuldeep Singh Tanwar said, “ The four-lane construction work is being carried out at a distance of only 4 to 5 kilometres from the headquarters of the Forest Department and state office of the HP Pollution Control Board, and we are still waiting for the action .”
He said, “ The HPCCB team will submit its report to the board, and we will wait for the action on our complaint; Kissan Sabha is also mobilising farmers on the issue and to launch an agitation.”
