NGT dismisses Himachal HC’s plea for reconstructing building

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 13

Maintaining a strict stand on not allowing any new construction in the congested core area of Shimla, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has turned down the Himachal High Court’s request to allow reconstruction of its old building.

The HC had sought approval for the project in modification of NGT’s order dated November 16, 2017, where it had prohibited all such constructions in view of potential threat to public safety and environment.

“Constructions in core areas of Shimla being serious hazard to public safety and environment, any modification, as suggested in the application, will not be viable. Undoubtedly, the requirement of the HC is the highest priority, but in view of the danger to public safety, we do not find it possible to modify the earlier order,” the NGT order read.

The latest NGT order is likely to prove a major stumbling block for the state government’s plan to seek relaxation for the people. Besides imposing a blanket ban on construction in the core and green areas, the NGT order restricting new constructions in rest of the Shimla planning area to only two and a half stories, has caused much discomfiture to realtors and private individuals.

Option for state govt

• Earlier this month, CM Jai Ram Thakur said his govt would move the HC for the modification of NGT’s “harsh” order of November 2017
• With HC plea being turned down by the NGT, the state govt can now only approach the Supreme Court on the issue, legal experts opine