Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 10: Castigating the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the authorities of Union Territory of J&K for not completing the four laning project on Banihal to Ramban and Nashri to Chenani sector within time, the High Court has directed the Chairman NHAI to solve the issue faced by the Highway Authority in completing the project.
Terming the response filed by Purshotum Kumar Project Director NHWI who was present in the Court as ambiguous, incomplete and vague, the division bench of Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice D S Thakur directed the Chairman NHAI to explore possibility of solving all the issues as pointed out by the Project Director of NHAI so that the project is completed at the earliest as the time line for the project has already expired.
When asked the Project Director as to what is the status of Banihal to Ramban road widening, he informed the Court that the work is in progress but there are still some disputes with regard to land acquisition, shifting of electricity towers and felling of trees which the concerned departments are not settling.
Court has also been apprised that there is a restraint order from Jammu wing of High Court as seven villages have approached to the Court for their compensation in lieu of acquired land from them due to which delay has been caused in completing the project.
Court directed the Project Director to inform the Court about this issue on next date and also brief the Court as to why the process was not initiated for acquiring the land, shifting of Towers or felling of trees before starting the project. The Collector land Acquisition has also been directed to file response on issue of providing compensation to those whose land has been acquired for the project.
When court asked the Project Director as to what is the timeline for completion of Udhampur to Ramban road widening, he said it has been fixed for June 2021. Court observed to him that the slow pace of work on the project will take life time. “It is a serious issue. This road has become death trap it’s very casual approach on part of the authorities. Such a huge project and delay caused huge loss of public exchequer”, Court expressed and said everyone will be taken on board if need arises as to why such an important project has been delayed.
Court directed the Deputy Commissioner Ramban to respond to the contention of Project Director with regard to felling of trees indicating in the response as to what are the reasons for delay in felling of the trees which is one of the causes in delaying the project.
Court directed him not to file the response in casual manner and shall ensure clear details are provided in the response. Court has also sought an expert opinion on carrying the four lanning project forward.
The Project Director has been directed to file details of those cases which are pending in courts pertaining to the compensation of land acquired with regard to presence of trees. The court directed the Managing Director Forest Corporation to file an affidavit about felling of trees.
The Chief Secretary has been asked to convene a meeting with the officials of PDD, SFC and Revenue department and also associate Regional Director of NHAI as also the contractors who have been given the project in order to ensure identification of all hurdles and issues coming in between the project and address them without any delay. For this purpose, the court said, the CS shall appoint Revenue Secretary as Nodal officer.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
