Himachal HC took cognizance against NHAI officials for allowing illegal dumping of muck in forest area

 Himachal Pradesh High Court has taken serious note of the irresponsible conduct on the part of the officials of National Highways The Authority of India (NHAI), is not controlling their contractors and preventing illegal dumping in the forest and along water bodies. Feeling distressed at this irresponsible conduct on the part of the National  Highways Authority, the Court has suo motu implead the Union of India,  through the Ministry of Environment & Forests and Ministry of Transport, as parties to the petition. 

A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao and Justice Ajay Mohan Goel, passed this order on the petition filed by Fourlane Visthapit and Prabhavit Samiti. The petitioner has alleged that the contractors of NHAI, who have been entrusted with the work of widening or constructing of four-lane Kiratpur – Nerchowk National Highway, are illegally dumping muck in the forest areas. 

Fixing accountability on NHAI, the Deputy Solicitor General of India appearing on behalf of newly implead respondents has been directed to file a  response as to what it intends to do to ensure that the officials of NHAI do not permit muck dumping areas of the State or near water bodies and for contractors and should ensure removal of the muck already dumped by them. The case has been ordered to be listed on 20.07.2023.