Stop quarrying works along NH : HC
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 29 2017: Division Bench High Court of Manipur has directed quarrying works along the National Highways of the State to be stopped immediately and has also issued notice to the North Eastern Railway to reply by December 18 through a special messenger .

The Court also fixed December 1 to consider matters related to National Highway 2 (Imphal-Dimapur road) .

The notice was issued to North Eastern Frontier Railways during the hearing of the PILs related to the National Highways of the State by the Division Bench High Court of Manipur comprising of Acting Chief Justice N Kotiswar and Justice Kh Nobin, today .

During the hearing, Senior Government Advocate, RS Reisang, submitted the work programme prepared by M/S Bhartia Infra Project Ltd regarding the works executed along the National Highways of the State as per the earlier direction of the Court .

After carefully examining the work programme, the Court found that the works had been divided into three milestones but there were no indication for chainage of the works which might create inconveniences for the Court in properly monitoring the works .

The Court directed the State Government and M/S Bhartia Infra Project Ltd to submit more details regarding the work programme, including chainage, on the next date of hearing .

Vikramjit of M/S HVS Material Private Ltd, also appeared before the Court in person as per the order passed by the Court.

He further submitted the progress of the works undertaken by him and also expressed certain difficulties faced by the local contractors and as a result, the Court instructed him to file the necessary affidavits regarding the matter .

General Manager of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), Sunil Kumar, also filed an affidavit today and personally explained the progress of the works .

He also informed the Court that the works for unlined drainage are in progress and numerous works which had been assigned to the existing contractors have been executed .

He informed that endeavours have been made with the higher authority for sanctioning appropriate funds for completion of the unlined drainage works for the required mileage which are beyond the allotted works .

He also highlighted the problem of continued quarrying on the hill sides along the National Highways, which are creating difficulties for the execution of the unlined drainage and other maintenance works.

As a result, the Court directed immediate stoppage of all quarrying works on the hills adjacent to the National Highways, expressing that such quarrying works could damage the National Highways .

The Court also directed the DC and the SPs of the districts concerned to ensure that there are no quarrying activities on the hill side of the National Highways .

Certain difficulties were also highlighted during the Court proceeding in an affidavit filed on behalf of the NHIDCL, stating that the North Eastern Frontier Railways (which is also executing certain railways projects nearby) frequently use the National Highways and while making routes to the project site adding that the drainage required to be maintained on the National Highways is frequently blocked thus causing damage to the road.

The Division Bench directed North Eastern Frontier Railways to cooperate with NHIDCL so as to prevent any hindrances regarding the works taken up by NHIDCL .

The Court also issued a notice to North Eastern Frontier Railways to reply by December 18 through a special messenger and fixed December 1 for hearing the matters related to National Highway 2 .

The Court also fixed December 18 for the PILs related to National Highway 37, Imphal-Jiribam road which will be taken up after getting the report.

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