Environmentalist opposes four-laning of Shimla-Kalka highway

Shimla, Apr 26 (UNI) An environmentalist has opposed the four-lanning of the Shimla-Kalka National Highway No 22, saying the project will destablise the fragile hills and lead to a new crises.

''Besides, no environment impact assessment (EIA) report has been sought or public hearing carried out before announcing the four-laning of the National Highway No 22,'' Kasuali Bachao Andolan Convenor Baljit Malik told UNI here.

He said, according to a geological study, the widening of the Shimla-Kalka National Highway would bring down the entire Kasauli Hill, threatening the lives of the people of the hill town.

A better traffic management and widening of the portions was the only solution to increased vehicular traffic on the National Highway, he said.

Referring to the construction activity in and around Kasauli town in violation of the HP High Court's order, Mr Malik said a three-star hotel, being set up in the town, was encroaching upon government land and despite stiff opposition from the Army authorities, nothing much has changed.

The court, in its December six order, banned new constructions and projects, exceeding Rs 25 lakh, in Kasauli town and additional planning area of the town on a PIL by Mr Malik, who had alleged illegal construction in the area.

The environmentalist also criticised the Town and Country Planning Department's notification, allowing the compounding of illegal land transfers of the hotel and medium industry at the rate of Rs 100 per sq metre and at the rate of Rs 200 sq metre for heavy industry.

''The government's policy of compounding illegal land use by a simple fine is violative of Land Tenancy Act 1972 and Section 118,'' he said.

He said the proposal for the construction of Rs 80 crore golf course in the town, facing Chandigarh, would permanently damage the ecology of the region. ''The residents are very rightly opposing the project.'' Mr Malik said he would soon be approaching the state High Court for staying all illegal constructions in the area besides filing contempt proceedings against the state and its departments.

UNI