HC DIRECTS NCB, POLICE TO CONTINUE ACTION AGAINST DRUGS, ENCROACHMENTS

Shimla:himachal Pradesh high court on Thursday directed Kullu deputy commissioner to act as a nodal officer and coordinate with all relevant departments of Kullu district for ensuring that all encroachments, so identified are removed and unauthorised structures are demolished.

The court also ordered that no establishments at Kasol village be allowed to operate except, in accordance with law.

The court directed the director general of police and zonal director, NCB, Chandigarh, to continue with such operations and file a fresh status report within a period of four weeks.

The court noticed that as per the joint inspection report of the committee constituted by DC Kullu, out of 60 establishments (hotels) in Kasol area, 44 establishments are neither having permissions from the tourism department nor do they have any consent to operate in terms of water (Prevention and Control of Pollution)act, 1974 and Air(prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

The court also noticed that some of these establishments have also encroached on forest land and perhaps raised construction thereupon. The court directed that all such 44 establishments be shut down forthwith. The court directed the DC Kullu to ensure that the water and electricity supply connections to these establishments are also disconnected forthwith and if necessary, superintendent of police, Kullu, shall depute police force for implementing such directions.