Demolish illegal structures at Kasauli hotels in 15 days: SC

: Rampant illegal construction at several hotels and resorts has endangered Kasauli, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday, while directing demolition of unauthorised structures within 15 days.

“Illegal construction has put the entire city in danger, causing landslides,” a bench of justices MB Lokur and Deepak Gupta said, upholding the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order that also imposed heavy costs on the resorts.

Demolition of unauthorised floors was ordered in 12 resorts after the court found they were in breach of the local development plan that allowed only two-storey building while most of the resorts had four extra floors.

Some of the prominent resorts that would face demolition squad are Whispering Winds, Shivalik House, 7 Pines Hotel, Neeligiri Hotel and Bird’s View resorts.

“You just demolish it (unauthorised constructions). What is going on? You are admitting that you were supposed to make only two-storeyed building. There was a landslide in your area and you did nothing. You are putting the life of people in danger. For what? Money,” justice Lokur told a counsel for one of the resorts.

The court said the resorts would also have to pay the heavy fine imposed by the NGT for irretrievable damage caused to ecology, polluting the environment and raising unauthorised constructions.

The National Green Tribunal order had come on a plea by an NGO, Society for Preservation of Kasauli and its Environs.

DEMOLITION OF UNAUTHORISED FLOORS WAS ORDERED IN 12 RESORTS AFTER COURT FOUND THEY WERE IN BREACH OF THE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT ALLOWED ONLY TWOSTOREY BUILDING