Garhwal Post Bureau
Nainital, 3 Jul: The Uttarakhand High Court began hearings on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding alleged unauthorised constructions in Rishikesh, raising serious questions over regulatory lapses and administrative accountability. During the proceedings held today, a division bench summoned the Housing Secretary, directing him to appear before the court on 9 July. The Court has also sought an explanation as to how buildings in Rishikesh are being constructed in the absence of duly sanctioned plans.
The court today expressed sharp disapproval of the functioning of senior officials, including the Commissioner, Garhwal, Vice Chairman, and Assistant Engineer, and questioned whether disciplinary action should not be initiated against them for dereliction of duty. The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for 9 July.
It may be recalled that the litigation, filed by Pankaj Agarwal and other residents of Rishikesh, alleges that multiple individuals have carried out constructions in blatant violation of approved building maps. It is stated that the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) had initially sealed several such illegal constructions. However, in a surprising turn, the sealing orders were later allegedly revoked by an Assistant Engineer, who proceeded to approve the building plans after compounding the violations and thereby regularising the unauthorised structures.
The petitioners contend that these illegal constructions not only violate urban planning norms but also pose a threat to the environment. They argue that such activities are not limited to Rishikesh alone but are also being reported from other urban areas, including Dehradun and Mussoorie.
