Himachal Pradesh High Court Orders Probe Into Rock Cracks, Muck Dumping At Luhri Hydroelectric Project

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has ordered a probe into the alleged damage to a rock above Narola village near Shimla, which has developed cracks. The court has also ordered an investigation into the muck dumping by the contractors at various places on the banks of river Satluj in the neighbouring area.

The order was passed by Chief Justice M Ramachandra Rao and Justice Ajay Mohan Goel Thursday while hearing a suo motu PIL on a letter filed by a resident of Narola village, who alleged that the blasting being done by the contractors working on the Luhri Hydroelectric Project was causing damage to the rock and posing a threat to the safety of the villagers.

The letter had also alleged that the muck from the blasting was being dumped in the river, which was polluting the water and posing a health hazard to the people living in the area.

In view of the allegations raised in the petition, the bench directed the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority Kinnaur at Rampur Bushahr, to visit the spot after giving notice to the petitioner and the 2nd respondent or their respective counsel and submit a report on the dumping of muck, as also the damage caused to the rock which is said to be above village Narola which might cause threat to the life and property of the people of the said village.

The court has also directed the Registrar of the IIT Roorkee to spare teaching faculty of the subject Geology for inspecting the site in question. While suo motu impleading the State of Himachal Pradesh through its Chief Secretary, as party respondent in the writ petition, and a sum of Rs. 1 lakh towards tentative cost, has been directed to be made available by it to the Registrar, IIT Roorkee, for making the inspection.

The report shall be filed by July 31, 2023 and accordingly the court has listed the matter for further hearing on August 3, 2023.

Case Title: Court on its own motion Vs. Member Secretary HP State Pollution Control Board & other

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