Shimla ex-dy mayor seeks inquiry into damages caused by floods, wants NHAI to be indicted

Anti-corruption Forum convener and former Shimla deputy mayor Tikender Singh Panwar said the recent natural disaster has exposed the work of NHAI in their two projects—the Chandigarh to Shimla and Kiratpur to Manali four lane works

Anti-corruption Forum (ACF), a Shimla-based group, has demanded the setting up of a Special Investigating Team (SIT) from the Himachal government to look into the widespread damages caused by the floods in July and indict the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for negligence.

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The forum convener and former Shimla deputy mayor Tikender Singh Panwar said the recent natural disaster has exposed the work of NHAI in their two projects—the Chandigarh to Shimla and Kiratpur to Manali four lane works.

“The NHAI officials along with the construction companies should be criminally prosecuted for their negligence. Immediately an SIT must be constituted by the government to look into the malfunctioning of the NHAI and also to explore the kickback, if any, to the construction companies in the construction of these two four-lane highways,” Panwar demanded.

“It has been proved without a doubt that the manner in which road construction was carried out is the main reason for both the roads being blocked intermittently,” he added.

Panwar alleged that the NHAI violated the norms of construction in the mountains by cutting the hills vertically, which resulted in massive landslides.

Also, the geological report of both the roads, along with the environment impact assessment report, is not even in the public domain, the water contours were disturbed and there is a huge loss to the bio-diversity, he added.

Provide compensation to hospitality industry: Panwar

July has been without any bookings for most of the hotels and the B&Bs in the state. In the Shimla district itself, there are estimated 5,000 tourism units, which include hotels, homestays, B&Bs, etc.

These units are also supporting a number of family units by providing them with direct employment in the industry. Then there are other related ancillary units like the tourist guides, taxi operators, shops, etc., who were completely devastated in the last two months, especially in July, said Panwar.

He said the NHAI should be made to pay a compensation of around ₹500 crore to the hosp