HP High Court Seeks Information on Steps Taken by Ministry of Transport for Restoration of Foralens

Shimla, Aug 25 – The Himachal Pradesh High Court has sought information regarding the steps taken by the Ministry of Transport for the restoration of the state’s highways. The court has ordered the Solicitor General of India to file an affidavit in this regard. Chief Justice MS Ramchandra Rao and Justice Ajay Mohan Goyal’s bench has scheduled the case for hearing on September 4th. During the hearing on Friday, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta appeared virtually before the court and requested additional time to file an affidavit on behalf of the Ministry of Transport.

The court has taken note of the unscientific methods used by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in constructing tunnels and highways in Himachal Pradesh. Recently, in response to the damage caused to Himachal’s highways, especially the Chandigarh-Shimla and Chandigarh-Manali routes due to heavy rainfall, the court has raised questions. The court specifically sought information about the steps taken to restore the damaged sections of the highways.

It is worth noting that the court has taken cognizance of the complaint from a 45-year-old experienced engineer in the field of engineering. A letter written by Shyamkant Dharmadhikari alleges that the haphazard excavation of mountains for constructing underground tunnels, roads, and bridges in the state is causing environmental damage. The use of substandard engineering in the construction of roads, improper retaining walls, and unscientific construction of bridges and tunnels result in significant damage. The court was informed that while nation-building cannot be expected without engineering, even a minor flaw in engineering and architecture can endanger countless lives. Due to the lack of proper drainage and outdated infrastructure, the retaining walls of roads are weak. There is no proper provision for water drainage, and the issue is that the land on both sides of a three-meter road has been encroached upon. Moreover, towns and villages lack service lanes, leading to an increased risk of accidents and becoming a cause for concern. The cutting down of extensive forests has led to soil erosion, further exacerbating the situation.