Bilaspur: A high-level team from the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) held a meeting with forest department officials and representatives of the Fourlane Visthapit and Prabhavit Samiti (FPVS) in Bilaspur on Wednesday as part of its ongoing inspection into alleged environmental violations and pending demarcation issues linked to the Kiratpur-Manali highway project.The meeting focused on the long-pending issue of installation of RCC boundary pillars along the Kiratpur-Manali highway. The MoEFCC team reviewed the status of the demarcation work and discussed the concerns raised by the residents’ body.FPVS general secretary Madan Lal Sharma said the ministry officials informed the organisation that installation of the boundary pillars along the highway stretch falling in Bilaspur district would be completed within the next 20 days.“The officials assured us that the RCC boundary pillars on the forest land in Bilaspur district will be installed within 20 days. We have been pursuing this issue for years as proper demarcation is essential to prevent encroachments and ensure that the project remains within the approved diverted forest land,” Sharma said.Earlier, the MoEFCC team made a scheduled visit to the project site in Mandi district where alleged unscientific dumping of excavation muck had taken place during the construction of Mandi-Pathankot highway.The inspection follows directions issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) while hearing a petition filed by residents of a housing colony near Sauli Khad in Mandi district. The petition alleged that muck generated during the four-laning of the Mandi-Pathankot National Highway-154 was dumped along the Beas river in violation of environmental norms, increasing the risk of flooding and ecological damage.A joint committee constituted by the NGT had earlier reported major lapses, including unauthorised dumping sites and dumping before protective retaining structures were completed.The inspection report is expected to be submitted to the NGT ahead of its July 23 hearing.MSID:: 132415791 413 |
