Admn for removal of kiosk in front of Rock Garden

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 18

Less than two months after the Sarin Memorial Legal Aid Foundation raised issues affecting Chandigarh’s heritage character, the UT Administration has ordered the removal of a kiosk set up in front of the Rock Garden.

The foundation had moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the removal of “Umeed” kiosk existing in front of the Rock Garden. During the course of hearing of the case, a letter from the UT Chief Architect, Department of Urban Planning, addressed to the UT Estate Officer and UT Chief Engineer, was placed before the Bench of Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal and Justice Amit Rawal.

The letter among other things referred to the meeting of the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee held way back in November, 2015. The communication said it was brought out that unauthorised sheds had been constructed in front of the Rock Garden, which were adversely affecting the heritage character. During the discussion, the committee learnt that the shed had been raised by “Umeed”, an NGO. After a detailed discussion, it was decided that the unauthorised structure should be removed and necessary instructions were given to the SDM (Central). It was added that the area had been enlisted as heritage grade-I and formed a part of the buffer zone of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Capitol complex

The Bench was told that the secretary of the petitioner foundation-cum-senior advocate ML Sarin had written to the Estate Officer on the issue. After a reminder was sent, a person describing himself as an employee visited Sarin’s office in connection with the complaint. Once it was explained that the kiosk was unauthorised and illegal, he assured Sarin that the structure would be removed.

In a related petition, the High Court was also told that the Municipal Corporation had notified fine/penalty to be collected from households and commercial establishments “for the removal and disposal of waste”. In case of non-payment , the amount will be collected as arrears of water bills. The Bench was also told that the target of planting trees and shrubs in Chandigarh for 2017-18 was 32,000. By now, 25,000 have already been planted.