Palampur, December 17
Illegal buildings are coming up on the riverbeds in Palampur. The entire Dhauladhar ranges of Kangra district fall in the seismic zone-V and are prone to flash floods. It looks as if people as well as the administration have not learnt any lessons from the Uttarakhand flash flood in which thousands of people had lost their lives.
Hotels, malls and shopping complexes have come up on the banks of the Bhiral and Mol khud, the two tributaries of the Beas passing through Palampur, without the approval of the Municipal Council and Town and Country Planning Department.
Most buildings fall in the MC purview and local Town and Country Planning officer remained the mute spectator. The constructions have squeezed the width of the riverbeds at many places.
A retired TCP officer, while talking to The Tribune, said there should be a ban on the construction along riverbeds. It was a matter of concern how such building plans were approved. He categorically said the rules should be implemented strictly after the murder of a woman TCP officer in Solan two years ago. He said there should be an independent agency like municipal corporation to pass the building plans.
A TCP officer said in municipal areas, the TCP Department had limited powers to intervene and most of the building plans were approved by the municipal council. He said the MC should act against the illegal construction and should not pass such buildings which were threat to human lives. He said despite written orders that these buildings are illegal, the HPSEBL and IPH Department granted them power and water connections.
]]>Courtesy: Tribune News Service
No comments:
Post a Comment