Hotel on forestland in McLeodganj to be razed

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 12

The Supreme Court has upheld the NGT orders issued in 2016 and ordered the demolition of a hotel-cum-restaurant. The structure was constructed on the forestland in McLeodganj by an entrepreneur on the Build Operate and Transfer basis for the Himachal Pradesh Bus Stand Management and Development Authority.

A Supreme Court Bench comprising Justice Dr DY Chandrachud, Justice Indu Malhotra and Justice Indira Banerjee has held that allowing the structure on the land in the bus stand complex will amount to legalising the illegal construction.

It directed the authority to commence the demolition of the structure within two weeks from the date of judgment and complete the demolition within one month. In the event of default, the Chief Conservator of Forests, along with the district administration, would demolish the structure and recover the cost and expenses as arrears from the authority.

The Bench held that as per NGT order, the authority could utilise the parking space and the bus stand complex. The NGT on May 16, 2016, had ordered the demolition of the structure in the complex.