SHIMLA: The Anti-corruption Forum (ACF), Himachal Pradesh, has launched a scathing attack on the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Shimla Jal Nigam Prabandhan Limited (SJPNL), demanding their indictment and accountability for an alleged rampant corruption and poor quality work in road projects of national security and strategic importance in Himachal Pradesh.
The ACF revealed damning evidence of NHAI's negligence in two critical projects of national importance: the Chandigarh to Shimla and Kiratpur to Manali four-lane highways works. Shockingly, NHAI's shoddy construction methods led to road blockages, disrupting vital connectivity and triggering massive landslides.
It was not alone due to the recent floods that had triggered landslides on the highways. The stretches of highways and retaining walls had collapsed at many points in the recent past as well.
One such sudden collapse of the road stretch had occurred near Solan soon after the Kalka-Shimla highway till Solan was thrown open to traffic few months ago. It had raised serious Concerns over safety and quality of works that NHAI, its construction companies and their subcontractors are executing in the hill terrain, giving a damn to quality and safety of the Highways.
The environmental impact and geological assessments for these projects remain concealed from the public eye, further fueling concerns about ecological damage, said ACF. 
The fallout from these failures has been immense, particularly for the hospitality industry and commuters in general. Hotels, B&Bs, and tourism-related businesses in districts like Solan, Shimla, Kinnaur, Kullu, Lahaul & Spiti have suffered severe losses due to disrupted access and decreased tourist inflow.
Leading from the front, former Deputy Mayor, Shimla, Tikender Singh Panwar, who is leading ACF, at a press conference he addressed in Shimla, called for criminal prosecution of NHAI officials and construction companies responsible for the negligence and bringing them to justice.
He demanded a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into NHAI's misconduct and potential kickbacks.
Furthermore, the ACF targeted SJPNL, a water utility overseeing Shimla's water and sewage.
Accusations of corruption and mismanagement within SJPNL have reached alarming levels. The organization's failure to function democratically and transparently has raised suspicions of backroom deals.
The ACF demanded the scrapping of SJPNL, cancellation of recent bids, and the formation of an SIT to unveil the depths of corruption within.
The utility's inflated contracts and tender manipulations have caused exorbitant financial losses, with a stark example showcasing a staggering Rs 2166 lakh excess expenditure over three years.
