Court order will save city heritage

Tribune News Service

Ramkrihan Upadhyay

Chandigarh, April 12

The judgment of the Delhi High Court against the Tata Camelot project in Kansal village of Punjab is a big relief for the city as it would protect the world heritage status granted to the Capitol Complex. The decision will also save Sukhna Lake, facing threat due to illegal construction in its catchment area.

Santosh Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests, Chandigarh, said the decision would have a far-reaching impact as the High Court validated the map of the catchment area prepared by the Survey of India.”This will stop illegal construction in the catchment area,” he added.

The Survey of India had prepared a map of the Sukhna catchment area in 2012. The map covers Khuda Ali Sher, Kaimbwala and Kansal villages. The Punjab Government had challenged the map, claiming that the area under Kansal village was not true.

Santosh Kumar said the court order had validated their contention. UT official said now they would demolish any illegal structure without notice in the catchment area.

Sumit Kaur, former Chief Architect of Chandigarh, said the project posed a threat to the world heritage status granted to the Capitol Complex by UNESCO. She said the Capitol Complex was planned in background of the Shivalik Hills.

Ajay Jagga, an advocate behind the crusade, said the project was coming up in violation of the New Capital Periphery Act (1952 ) and many other laws.

He said it was a victory for the city and its environmental heritage. It will also save the wildlife and the catchment area of Sukhna Lake.