Himachal Govt notifies eight green zones in Shimla Planning Area
To counter firece criticism of recent cabinet decision to open a green areas Himachal Pradesh Government confirmed today that it has notified eight green zones in Shimla Planning Area aparts from 17 green belt already notified.
In a press statement issued her today Spokesperson of Town and Country Development Department said that now, the state has given the green light to declare an additional eight areas as green zones.
These include Retreat, Mashobra, Band Tukda Andri, Shiv Mandir Andri, Tal & Giri, DPF Khalini, BCS Mist Chamber, and Parimahal of Shimla.
Spokesperson stated that the objective pf above decision is to expand the green area and safeguard against haphazard construction.
It is worthwhile to mention here that queen picturesque landscapes is preserving dense Deodar forest declared 17 existing green belts within the planning area, covering 414 hectares, 76 percent of this area is designated as government land.
Spokesperson stated that step was taken inwake of reverse the unforeseen incident and learning from the recent monsoon disaster.
Attributing the decision as emphasize taken by Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu spokesperson said that Monsoon fury has taught us a lesson to balance between development and environment.
It is high time to take steps for environmental preservation for sustainable development.
This initiative aims not only to protect existing green belts but also to minimize the ecological footprint of human interventions.
The government’s commitment to environmental preservation for the sake of sustainable development is reflected in these decisive steps.
The cabinet, in a recent meeting, approved plans to extend the planning area in Shimla, Chopal, and Kullu, with a particular focus on addressing the challenges posed by unplanned development.The state government has decided to extend the planning area to control haphazard construction in these regions.
The state government has laid special focus on environmental protection, stating, ‘Apart from enhancing the green area, we have been promoting E-vehicles and harnessing green energy to meet the demands of the state.’ These steps would go a long way in achieving the goal of sustainable development and conserving the environment for future generations.”
State government wants to implement the Shimla Development Plan as SC is scheduled to hear the matter on December 12, 2023 to consider state government plea.
Do government made amendment in chapter 17 of Shimla Development Plan area would be excersize to take favourable decision from SC.
State government has pleaded before the SC in previous hearing that it couldn’t able to allow reconstruction and construction on online in SPA due to NGT stayed on all construction in Core area.
Counsel for the state and Advocate General Anup Rattan submitted before the double bench of apex court that people are still leaving in unsafe and vulnerable houses as government couldn’t allow reconstruction of old and delipated multistorey buildings even on the old line.
However TCP spokesperson have clarified in the statement that decision to notify eight green zones and increasing green belts to 25 was in response to the recent disaster as state government has implemented a series of measures aimed at curbing haphazard construction in key areas of the state.
Earlier to this Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu have blamed previous BJP Government for violation of construction ban in the 17 green areas of Shimla town for allowing number of constructions.
It is worthwhile to mention here that most of construction allowed and unsustainable construction materials used in the Shimla core and green belts are state government projects and major works which was given waiver by the authorities in the name of public interests.
