The High Court of Uttarakhand has pulled up the Nainital district administration on the subject of encroachment in Nainital and ordered a halt on the setting up of two toll booths by the municipality.
According to the case details, in September 2014 the High Court’s division bench had ordered closure of toll collection points at Barapatthar and Fansi Gadera. The Nainital municipal council was going to start the tender process for reopening these two chungis (toll points).
The High Court ordered halting of the process. Further, expressing dissatisfaction, the Court also asked the district magistrate as to why necessary action was not being undertaken to remove encroachments from Bada Bazaar. Stating its displeasure, the division bench further questioned why action was being taken at such a slow pace to execute the court orders.
The court commissioner CD Bahuguna informed the court that encroachment was taking place at various sites in the Bada Bazaar area in Mallital locality of Nainital. Wares are being spread outside the shops, he added. Taking cognisnace of this, the court directed the district administration to take necessary action immediately. Regarding the cable network being laid underground on the roads in Nainital, the court directed the district magistrate to ensure that the work is completed by March 31.
The court further said that the working agency will not undertake the work at 8 AM and 5 PM as school children and office goers commute during these times. The advocate for the petitioner averred that illegal constructions were being facilitated at Sukhatal and other locations by people in connivance with the lake Development Authority (lDA). The court asked the advocate for the petitioner to provide a list of such illegal constructions. The petition was heard by the division bench of justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and justice lokpal Singh.