With pressure mounting on the government to grant “limited” relaxations for new constructions in Shimla’s green belt — where construction work was banned in 2000 — Himachal Pradesh government may waive off certain restrictions for the residents affected by the ban. At least six dozen plot holders, who could not take up construction work in the banned areas, may get relaxations as the cabinet is expected to deliberate on the draft Shimla Development Plan on February 29. “The City Development Plan has all elements to regulate constructions. Instead of taking a decision on case-to-case basis, we propose to make a broad policy under which, those who were deprived of their rights, will get justice,” Minister for Town and Country Planning Mohinder Singh said. Earlier, Green Area Sufferers Association, led by president R L Jain, had submitted a three-page representation to the director of town and country department demanding that green areas be refined to give relief to people, who were not given an opportunity to be heard before the ban was imposed. “We had twice met Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and sought his intervention. None of us is averse to the government’s initiatives to preserve the environment but there are ways to permit constructions without allowing damage to the green cover,” said Jain. The Association had quoted examples like Jakhu Ropeway project in the green belt, for which 30 trees were felled. Moreover, while setting up the Judicial Complex resulted in the felling of 200 trees, the luxury apartment project of Bamloe builders had also razed considerable green cover. “Why should the ban be implemented only on individual plots at 17 pockets ?” asked a senior official.