Shimla, Jan 16,
In a matter alleging environmental negligence, illegal dumping along National Highway 707 near Sataun in Himachal Pradesh has sparked anger and concern among local residents. The sublet company BRN, working under ABCI Company, stands accused of dumping debris into rivers, streams, and forest areas, causing severe ecological damage. The resulting environmental degradation has raised serious questions about the accountability of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and local administration, which now face mounting public pressure to act.
As per a local activist Nathuram Chauhan on Wednesday, a joint inspection team visited the affected areas from Sataun to Timbi, only to uncover the scale of destruction caused by unregulated dumping. At Tilgin Khale near the Giri River, officials were shocked to see thousands of metric tons of debris from an illegal dumping yard flowing into the river and adjoining streams, he informed. This blatant disregard for environmental norms left local officials scrambling for answers and further fueled the anger of local residents, who had long been demanding corrective action, he stated.
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Adding Chauhan informed that he guided the inspection team to several sites, including a dumpyard near a school in Sataun. Here, debris had been haphazardly piled into a ravine without the stabilization measures required by law. The absence of wire crates led to massive soil erosion, with tons of material being washed away during rains. Despite repeated reprimands from locals, no action had been taken to address the situation, exacerbating their frustration and heightening concerns about potential disasters, he alleged.
The inspection team also visited a forest area where illegal dumping was rampant. Chauhan alleged that when Naib Tehsildar Omprakash demanded documentation permitting such activity, officials from the NHAI and the Forest Department failed to provide any. Instead, the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of NHAI abruptly left the inspection, citing an excuse, forcing a premature end to the proceedings, he stated. Such behavior further deepened public mistrust and underscored the need for stringent oversight of these activities.
The scale of corruption and negligence became even more apparent when officials from NL Malivia Consulting Company and NHAI absconded during a subsequent inspection, stated Chauhan. This pattern of evasion suggests a deliberate attempt to avoid accountability. Chauhan alleged that NL Malivia Consulting Company has misled both the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the public by submitting false evidence. He further accused NHAI of ignoring the environmental havoc caused by BRN’s illegal dumping activities and failing to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
Villagers have expressed outrage over the blockage of vital water sources and the destruction of private and forest lands. They fear the unstable dumpyards will lead to landslides, threatening lives and livelihoods. Despite repeated appeals, the inspection team failed to measure the debris in rivers and streams or document the full extent of the damage, leaving locals with little recourse.
The construction project, which has allegedly caused over 100 crore rupees worth of damage, has resulted in the destruction of hundreds of natural water sources, including 270 springs, 57 hand pumps, and 55 lift irrigation schemes, claimed Villagers.
Chauhan and other locals have called on the District Deputy Commissioner to conduct a thorough investigation, adhering to NGT guidelines, and to hold those responsible accountable. They have also demanded that the debris be measured, and proper steps taken to restore the affected areas before irreversible damage occurs.
Efforts to contact the district administration for comment were unsuccessful, but official sources confirmed that the highway widening project on NH-707 is ongoing. However, without strict regulatory oversight, this project risks becoming an environmental disaster under the very noses of the authorities.
