Shimla: Center strict on encroachment near China border, warned state government, sent letter to CS and DG

Shimla. The Central government has become strict on encroachment on the National Highway in Himachal Pradesh up to the areas near the Tibet border governed by China. Vinay Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of the Central Government, has sent a letter in this regard to the Chief Secretary. It has also been sent to the Director General of Border Roads Organization. In this, the Executive Engineers of the State Public Works Department have also been asked to be responsible for removing the encroachment.

Not only the NH Authority will be responsible for this. The opinion of the state government has also been sought on the strictness of the Central Government to remove the encroachment. The Ministry has prepared a draft circular. On this too, suggestions and objections have been sought from the state government within 15 days.

Encroachment on NH of hilly areas too
Encroachment has been done on the side of the National Highway not only in the plains of the state, but also in the mountainous areas. At many places, the national highways are so narrow that even calling them NHs seems like an exaggeration.

Inspection twice a month
A draft circular has also been sent to the Chief Secretary. Objections and suggestions have been sought on this within 15 days. Similar objections and suggestions have been sought from other states as well. According to this, the Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department in the state government, who has been given the charge of National Highway, will take appropriate steps to remove illegal encroachments on the roadside. It has been clarified that the Executive Engineer should be sent for inspection twice a month to remove encroachments and send its report.

The person who encroached will be given the bill for the cost of removal…The person who encroached will be given the bill for the cost of removal. This system will be made even more strict in the new rules. For this, the concerned officer will issue a notice to such a person. The format of the notice has also been sent to the state government.