Kansal residents move Punjab and Haryana High Court over poor amenities

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 24

Kansal residents today moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking directions to the State of Punjab and other respondents to allow repair, maintenance and improvement of basic amenities, including electricity, sewerage, water supply, roads and drainage system.

Appearing before the Bench of Justice Jaswant Singh and Justice Harinder Singh Sidhu, senior advocate Gurminder Singh with counsel Gurnoor Singh Sandhu contended that repair was to be carried out to save the Kansal area residents from inconvenience as maintenance activities had been stopped.

The Bench was told that directions regarding the demolition of construction in the catchment area delineated by the Survey of India map dated September 21, 2004, and the payment of damages/compensation by the state governments was stayed by the High Court while issuing notice on a review application.

It was also ordered that the earlier direction against carrying out building activity in the catchment area in terms of the Survey of India map, falling within the jurisdiction of Punjab and Haryana, would remain in force.

The Bench was told that the directions were being complied with in letter and spirit. Accordingly, it was being ensured that no construction activity was carried out in the catchment area. The matter, however, made little progress as the petition was not listed after March 18 following the Covid outbreak. The case was now pending for November 17.

“In the meantime, Kansal area residents are facing difficulties and inconvenience due to deteriorating roads, electricity supply, sewerage, water supply and drainage system. Their plight worsened as the local civic authorities have ceased to carry out essential repair work in view of the interim order passed by the court on December 18, 2020,” it was added.

Taking up the petition, the Bench issued notice to the state and other respondents for September 29.