Though over a year has passed Srinagar division of National Highway Authority of India has not taken any action regarding the encroachment of the National Highway by the Pauri Nagar Palika Parishad. Notably, parts of NH have been encroached upon by the civic body to facilitate the construction of the bus station. Asked for comment, Uttarakhand chief engineer National Highway Authority of India Hari Om Sharma said they would not brook any kind of encroachment of the National Highway. He said he would direct the executive engineer, Srinagar division, to take proper action.
However, Pauri Nagar Palika Parishad remains adamant on carryon on with the unauthorized construction that encroaches parts of the National Highway. This despite the notice sent by the Srinagar division of NHAI and sub-divisional magistrate to stop it.
It is learnt that the civic board is planning to construct a few shops in the area wedged between Kotdwar-Pauri-Srinagar National Highway and the Mall Road under the preview of Public Works Department’s provincial division Pauri. Two shops have been running in the National Highway just in front of the under- construction bus station. However, the Srinagar National Highway division has its eyes closed on the encroachment for reasons best known to them.
Sharma told The Pioneer that all the encroachment coming along the highway falling under the jurisdiction of the Srinagar division will be demolished. Asked why no action has been taken against the encroachment so far, he said that the executive engineer Srinagar division would be directed to look into the matter and take action against the violators and to demolish the unauthorized construction.
Engineer NH Srinagar division Dhirendra Kumar told The Pioneer on Monday that the notice had been sent to those who had encroached the National Highway land, including Nagar Palika Parishad, and asked them to demolish the construction immediately failing which they would have them pulled down in assistance from administration and police.
Former chairman Pauri Nagar Palika Parishad Jaspal Singh Negi said that while, on one hand, the government has been stressing on the construction of a double lane National Highway the Srinagar division of National Highway, on the other, has chosen to be silent on the unauthorized construction set up by the civic board. Action should be taken against the executive engineer Srinagar division for the negligence and lethargic attitude and for not taking action against the violation of NH rule.
The people are of the view that things are going on for over a year with connivance of the Srinagar division of National Highway Authority of India and the district administration. law must be equal for all, they say.