Himachal Kisan Sabha shows solidarity with four-lane affected families
Himachal Pradesh Kisan Sabha today joined about 300 people belonging to 50 four-lane affected families belonging to Shungal village under Basha Gram Panchayat of Kandaghat Tehsil of Solan district.
HKS state President Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar met with affected people of Shungal who are up in arms against M/rs Singla and Samon India Ltd as the duo allegedly created havoc in the village in connivance with the National Highway Authority of India.
Dr. Tanwar said that NHAI’s construction of four lanes from Parwanoo (Kathilighat) to Dhalli in the last phase has not only undermined the social environment and economic aspects but not a single youth were offered employment in the projects mandatory in the public projects.
Villagers said that NHAI officials were not giving patients hearing to their repeated grievances and stepmotherly treatment was met with them by forcefully executing the highway project in the village.
Dr Tanwar said that massive tunneling near the village for the construction of the last phase of NH -5 four-lane between Kathilighat to Dhali creating cracks in houses and water sources are declining due to the receding water table.
He said that villagers are facing water pollution which was caused by to massive use of blasting material like gelatin.
Several villagers are also paid throwaway prices for their lands as due to the negligible circle rate of acquisition land they were paid land compensation as low as at the rate of Rs 25000 per Biswa.
Dr Tanwar said that the circle rate of acquired land was negligible despite the high value of land as farmers normally do not indulge in selling their landholding.
Apart from acquired land people were faci g unscientific and unregulated disposal of muck and rubble being dumped in the left out un acquired land.
Villagers lament that despite repeated requests to authorities dumping and excavated debris are causing devastation into left-out lands as Soil and dust pollution are causing massive damage to wildlife, plants, grass, folder, and water sources.
It was also leading deterioration of the environment as thick layers of dust particles mounted on the grass and green foliage further posing health complications to livestock and people at large.
During the recent monsoon already completed parts of this four-lane crumbled like packs of cards as it remained off for almost two months.
The faulty steep cutting of hills for construction and mining to this four-lane between Kalka to Kumarhati also forced NHAI and union minister Nitin Gadkari to contend public regret over negligence in the construction of high way.
