A construction work initiated by the DRDO on the top of the Swarnachuda hill has been stalled following objection by the Forest Department. The objection was raised by the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) as the contractor didn’t adhere to the guidelines prescribed by the Forest Department.
DFO Harsh Bardhan Udgata, besides pointing out that the construction company flouted the safety guidelines, asked the PMU (project management unit) to stop work till compliance of the safety factors.
The construction for a permanent Radar station on the hilltop, about 1,500 feet above sea level, was undertaken about two months’ ago while a radar unit was functional from a mounted vehicle (mobile setup).
For setting up a Radar unit to facilitate various activities of Defence Department, the DRDO had sought an area in the Swarnachuda hilltop under Nilgiri reserve forest range. In 1983-84, 48.16 hectares of land was diverted in the favour of the Defence by the State Government. Though the land is under reserve forest category, but it was diverted for construction works for the specific purpose. The DRDO was doing its radar tracking operation through a mobile unit, but recently it took an initiative for a permanent construction.
DFO Udgata said, “The land diversion of land in favour of the Defence was made long ago and they were operating through mobile mode. Yet permanent construction began about two months ago. During the construction, in the process of leveling the ground, the contractor made blasting and rolled down the debris without care. As a result, several tress were damaged, besides the threat of soil erosion to the bald hill.”
“The guideline is to dump the debris in earmarked place given by us instead of throwing them here and there casually. The casual action has damaged the plants and hills, besides inconveniences to the wildlife. We asked the contractor to stop the work till compliance of the prescribed guidelines. We have directed the (PMU) DRDO to take necessary measure to compensate the loss and damage. Besides we asked them to put the debris in the earmarked place,” the DFO added.
Meanwhile, a communication regarding compliance of the guidelines from the DRDO was received. The DFO said that permission would be given for construction after field verification. “The Defence work for national interest will not be hindered,” he maintained.