Urban Development and TCP Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, Industries and Transport Minister Bikram Singh and Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania have hailed the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India for upholding the orders of National Green Tribunal issued in 2016 for demolition of Hotel cum Restaurant constructed on forest land at Mcleodganj in Dharamshala of Kangra district.
The Ministers said that the decision has yet again exposed the misdeeds and illegal practices committed during the tenure of the previous government. They said that the hotel was constructed by a private investor in connivance with the then senior Congress leaders. They said that all the norms were flouted and illegal construction was made under political patronage. They said that, the Hon’ble Supreme Court on the basis of Civil Appeal, has appointed District and Session Judge Kangra as Inquiry Officer on 9th September, 2016 to look into the irregularities of the construction of Bus Stand as well as Hotel and the Restaurant. They said that Inquiry Officer submitted the report to Hon’ble Supreme Court in the year 2018. They said that it was found that neither the map was approved from the Town and Country Planning Department nor clearance was sought under Forest Conservation Act. They said that changes of land use were made without seeking permission from the competent authority. They said that hotel was constructed in a place where bus stand was to be built.
Suresh Bhardwaj, Bikram Singh and Rakesh Pathania said that National Green Tribunal in its order in 2016 has asked the defaulter to raze the illegal structure. They said that for this Committee was constituted which found several irregularities in construction of the hotel. They said that the defaulter company had full patronage of the then Congress Government and flouted all norms. They said that despite orders of the NGT the then Congress Government neither demolished the illegal structure nor took any action against the guilty. They said that instead of taking action against the defaulters, the then Congress Government went against the decision of NGT before the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
The Ministers said that this was a glaring example of corruption, nepotism and favouritism, which was at its peak during the tenure of the previous Congress Government and rules and regulations were kept aside to appease their favourites.
They said that State Government under dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was committed to provide transparent, corruption free and responsive administration to the people of the State by adopting policy of zero tolerance against corruption and appropriate action would be taken against the defaulters, howsoever, influential he may be.
