Rattled by reports of dumping of debris and damage of the village road, union minister for transport, road and highways Oscar Fernandes on Monday made an unscheduled visit to Kamli village and listened grievances of farmers.
The minister, who was accompanied by Solan deputy commissioner Madan Chauhan and superintendent of police Ramesh Chhajta, visited the village after a large number of villagers led by chairman of the State Construction Board Hardeep Singh Bawa apprised him of farmers' grievances that arose after the dumping of debris by JP Company and others during the construction of the Pinjore-Parwanoo bypass, three years ago.
Notably, the dumping of rocky muck had led to blockade of the Parwanoo-Kamli road several times and caused heavy damage to the private property in and around the village.
The heavy flow of rocky muck had almost rendered the village's cultivable land completely barren. Even, the farmers who had carried out the agricultural operations to grow cash and other traditional crops on the land had suffered heavy losses after the muddy debris destroyed the crops over several bighas a few years ago.
The dumping of debris had also hampered industrial and commercial operations in and around the village. Though top officials of the district administration had also visited the village several times, the concerned construction companies had not initiated any step to remove the debris and restore the Kamli link road. Later, the company officials had given compensation to the affected villagers.
{{/usCountry}}The dumping of debris had also hampered industrial and commercial operations in and around the village. Though top officials of the district administration had also visited the village several times, the concerned construction companies had not initiated any step to remove the debris and restore the Kamli link road. Later, the company officials had given compensation to the affected villagers.
{{/usCountry}}The union minister, who was on the way to Shimla, gave patient hearing to the affected villagers and directed the officials of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to immediately remove the dumped debris from the cultivable and uncultivable land of the farming community and also ensure the construction of the link road that had badly damaged during the Pinjore-Parwanoo bypass.
Meanwhile a deputation of Congress leaders led by social justice and empowerment minister DR Shandil also met the minister and urged him to consider the demand of changing of alignment of the proposed four-laning of the highway.
Shandil apprised the minister that the present alignment of the four-laning would render a large number of residents homeless.
The minister assured the delegation that needed measures would be initiated to safeguard the interest of the residents.