Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source internet
Shimla, Aug 27,
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning illegal muck dumping in Motla village of Chamba district, while cautioning the State to ensure stricter safeguards in future road construction projects.
The PIL, filed by petitioner Sanjeevan Singh, highlighted indiscriminate dumping of debris by contractors engaged in the construction of a 9-km link road from Motla to Sukhiar. The court had earlier noted that several designated dumping sites were located in nallah catchment areas and above water tanks, posing risks of blockage and environmental damage.
During the proceedings, it emerged that penalties of over Rs 20 lakh were imposed on the contractors, in addition to directions for reconstructing damaged retaining walls along the road. The State submitted affidavits confirming that the reconstruction work had been completed, and muck removal from forest land was carried out at an estimated cost of Rs 64 lakh.
Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma, while closing the PIL, emphasized that the State must carefully identify dumping sites for all future projects. The bench underlined that debris sliding into private land, water bodies, forests, and catchment areas could trigger disasters, especially given the region’s fragile topography and the increasing frequency of landslides during monsoon.
The court stressed that private contractors must strictly adhere to environmental safeguards, noting that unchecked muck dumping adds to risks faced by residents in lower-lying areas. With the proactive measures already taken, the petition was declared infructuous and disposed of.
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