HP govt moves top court, challenges order curbing construction in Shimla

SHIMLA: Almost three months after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned construction in some parts of Shimla, the state government has now filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the green court’s direction. The NGT has ordered to change the town plan banning construction above 2 floors in planning areas.

Besides, the green tribunal has ordered to design a new plan for the construction. It has also directed to ban construction till 3 metres of national highways. The NGT’S order has also put heavy penalty on those having violated the town and country planning rules earlier. People have been demanding some relaxation and the state government has now approached the apex court challenging the NGT order.

The government is challenging the NGT order since its compliance was not easy, said an official requesting anonymity.

The green court has also banned the construction on steep beyond 30 degrees. It would not allow construction on any part of Shimla and surrounding areas.

The state’s move to regularise the unauthorised construction has also taken a hit by the green court’s order. It has laid the heavy penalty for those violating the law.

The tribunal had rapped the Himachal Pradesh government for permitting indiscriminate construction and said it has failed to discharge its constitutional obligations and it was this failure that has exposed Shimla to natural and man-made disasters.

DISCUSSES RECENT POLITICAL EVENTS

WITH CHIEF MINISTER Dineshwar Sharma also met chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday.

During the meeting, Sharma informed the chief minister about his visit to the winter capital.

During the meeting, they discussed the emerging geopolitical developments in the region since Sharma’s last visit to the state.

This was Sharma's fourth visit to the state since his appointment in October last year. In his last trip, Sharma had only visited the Kashmir valley and returned to Delhi on January 24.