CPM seeks judicial probe against builders for bypassing norms

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HimVani

Shimla (May 27): Himachal Pradesh unit of CPI(M) has demanded a high level enquiry led by a sitting or retired judge of the high court against Bemloe Development and Infrastructure Company Private limited (BDIC), which is constructing a housing project in Kanlog ward of Shimla Municipal Corporation.

While addressing a press conference, Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, party state secretariat member, reiterated here today that on May 23, 2011, a protest was held in front of the forest department by party activists. He said that following an agitation and complaints lodged by CPM a high-level panel was constituted by the government comprising the Chief Conservator of Forest to look into the damage done to the forest cover in Kanlog area allegedly by the aforesaid company as this was done in connivance with some of the forest Officials.

Tanwar disclosed that the preliminary enquiry by the panel has revealed that old forest road from Parsi Cemetery to Old Brewery being carved out during the British Raj has been thoroughly damaged and illegally trees have been cut. Seeking judicial probe by retired judge of Himachal Pradesh High Court, the party alleged that aforesaid company forged signatures of a large number of people demanding the repair/maintenance of the Kanlog-Beerkhana Road.

He alleged that while some of the signatories died long back and some have plainly refused stating that they have no idea how their names have come up in the memorandum addressed to the chief minister dated nil but marked from the office of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhual on March 21, 2011.

Interestingly some of the names that figure in the memorandum have no connection to the site. He alleged that on the pretext of repair BDIC not only got the original road changed, widened but also illegally cut down dozens of trees. Terming it sheer violence Forest Conservation Act and without sedation of sanction from Central government to cut down the party could fit case for the judicial probe which could have far fetching consequences.

The party has expressed its astonishment over the fact that on June 16, 2007, the councilor of the ward Madhu Sud, who presently is the Mayor, had made a request to repair the Kanlog – Beerkhana road but no action was taken until the housing project got the approval.

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