Order of the Supreme Court regarding diversion of forest land for Rohtang highway tunnel, Himachal Pradesh, 26/08/2019
Order of the Supreme Court of India in the matter of In Re: T. N. Godavarman Thirumulpad Vs Union of India & Others dated 26/08/2019 regarding silviculture felling of trees in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has informed that the works inside the Rohtang Highway tunnel are proposed to be completed by December, 2019, which is a strategic project of national importance. The completion of pending concrete work inside the tunnel is, however not possible without immediate supply of stones/boulders from M/s paras Stone Crusher, for which State of Himachal Pradesh needs to issue formal orders for diversion of 2.1754 hac. of forest land in favour of M/s Paras Stone Crusher.
The SC grants permission with the condition that diversion shall be permitted for the purpose of construction of Rohtang Highway Tunnel and not for any other purpose. "The permission granted shall be co terminus with the completion of the project by December, 2019" said the order. In case of any violation, the officers of the state and the contractor would be held responsible. The contractor has been directed to give an undertaking to the Court that no violation of the Court's order would be made.