Sukhu directs to prepare comprehensive plan to divert land for 2183 roads under FRA

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while presiding over a meeting of the Forest department here today, directed to prepare a comprehensive plan for diversion of land pertaining to all 2183 roads constructed without the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980 approval under provisions of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 in accordance with the directions of High Court of Himachal Pradesh.

The Chief Minister said that the State Government was committed to strengthen the rural connectivity infrastructure and ensure better access even in the remote areas. He said that many of these roads provide critical access to remote habitations and were important for emergency response particularly in the disaster prone areas.

It is pertinent to mention that these roads were constructed prior to the implementation of FRA in 2006 and only 150 road cases were approved between the years of 2016 to 2026. Meanwhile, the public interest litigation was filed before the High Court in this regard which directed the department to process these cases under the provisions of FRA.

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Advocate General Anup Rattan, Special Secretary, Forest Vijay Kumar and other senior officers attended the meeting.