The Punjab and Haryana High Court today put a stay on the construction of a road in front of the official residences of Punjab ministers through a green belt in Sector 2.
On a petition filed by Sector 2 residents against the UT move, the HC observed, “…the counsel for the UT Chandigarh is unable to explain as to how the designated green belt can be destroyed in this fashion by issuance of a simple tender for construction of access roads…construction or carving out roads/streets in the said green belt to remain stayed till further orders.”
The court observed, “The petitioners submitted that the designated green belt in Sector 2 is being encroached upon. It is submitted that access to the houses in question is already available, but still new roads/lanes are being constructed in an illegal manner through the green belt designated in the Master Plan of Chandigarh.
The counsel for the UT is unable to apprise us as to whether destruction/desecration of this green belt is permissible and if so, whether necessary procedure thereof was followed before initiating the process of providing these access points. The counsel merely submitted that necessary tender for the work was issued.”
Following the request of the UT counsel, the next date of hearing on the petition has been fixed for April 12 next year.
During a visit to the site earlier in the day, it was found that the UT Administration was getting the dug-up road filled. “It is being filled for the past two-three days,” said a staff member of the adjoining government house.
A resident said the work had come to a standstill after news about the violation appeared in Chandigarh Tribune. Residents are now demanding that not only the green belt should be restored at the site of violation.
The UT Administration damaged a part of the green belt to build a road directly connecting the ministers’ houses to the main road even as there are other inner roads available for connectivity. The issue had led to a controversy as some residents have been opposing the move.
Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira had, in his complaint to Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit, accused a functionary of the Punjab Government of getting the road built without caring two hoots about the norms. The city AAP had denied any wrongdoing on the part of their leader.
