DHARAMSHALA/JAWALAMUKHI, JUNE 11: The Jawalamukhi administration has ordered a probe into allegations of dust, air and water pollution, besides violations of environmental safeguards, at the under-construction ₹46.6 crore Daroli Bridge project following persistent complaints from local residents.
But no remedial action has been taken by the administration in connection with the Bridge Project so far.
Taking serious note of the grievances, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Jawalamukhi, has directed the Executive Engineer, HPPWD Division Jawalamukhi, to investigate the allegations and ensure immediate corrective measures at the construction site.
The action comes on a complaint filed by Ritesh Kumar of Daroli village, who alleged that the contractor executing the bridge and retaining wall project had failed to comply with mandatory environmental and pollution-control norms, causing severe hardship to residents living in the vicinity.
According to the complaint, the contractor allegedly neglected regular water sprinkling to suppress dust, failed to install dust barriers and windbreaking arrangements, and obstructed access to a traditional village bavdi.
Residents have alleged that thick clouds of dust generated by construction activities have adversely affected their health, with children and elderly persons being the worst sufferers.
The complainant further alleged that despite repeated representations to various authorities, including the Public Works Department and pollution-control agencies, effective action was not taken to address the growing environmental concerns.
In his directions, the SDM asked the Executive Engineer to thoroughly examine the allegations, ensure strict compliance with environmental guidelines, tender conditions and public safety norms, and take immediate steps to control dust pollution through regular water sprinkling and other mitigation measures.
The department has also been instructed to address the grievances raised by the complainant at the earliest and submit a compliance report to the SDM office.
The controversy has brought renewed focus on environmental compliance and monitoring of government-funded infrastructure projects in the region.
Local residents have welcomed the intervention but the inquiry has yet to fixe accountability and give tangible relief on the ground to the suffering residents.
The PWD has given deaf ear to unchecked dust pollution, environmental violations and public inconvenience so far as the PWD engineers are hand in glove with the Contractor.
The villagers have urged the CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh to take immediate action and ensure that Contractor is brought to book and PWD field engineers are taken to task to restore confidence of public in rule of law.
