Expect swift decision by Central Govt on forest land near Rock Garden, says HC
Plan to resolve traffic problem on court complex
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has expressed hope that the Centre will take a swift action to address the diversion of forest land near the Rock Garden, which has been causing severe traffic congestion around the complex.
Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain, during the course of hearing, informed the court that a proposal to divert 0.0272 hectares of forest land outside the Rock Garden boundary had already been submitted. But certain objections raised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change were still under consideration by the Chandigarh Administration. Jain assured the court that the objections would be addressed expeditiously, and a final decision made within two weeks.
Taking note of the submission, the Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal asserted: “This court is hopeful and also expects of the Union of India to take expeditious decision so that the traffic congestion problem being faced by this High Court is resolved.”
The direction is significant as the traffic bottleneck around the High Court has been exacerbated by the narrow roads near the Rock Garden, particularly the jutting-out corner on the southeast side of the multi-level parking, which has created a choke point. The diversion of forest land for road widening is being seen as a crucial step in alleviating the traffic congestion.
“The jutting out corner of the Rock Garden is causing problem and bottleneck creating congestion of traffic and, therefore, the UT Administration is further directed to ensure conversion from forest to non-forest purpose for the area lying within the jutting-out corner of Rock Garden. Acquisition or conversion of the piece of land from forest to non-forest purpose is one of the options available to the UT Administration, which it is directed to work upon and take positive steps towards resolving the dispute,” the Bench added.
The High Court also took note of other issues contributing to the traffic congestion. It observed the possibility of reducing the width of a road divider measuring over eight feet, between the new judicial record room and the multi-level parking. The court suggested that this could be done without damaging the trees growing on the divider. It further sought an explanation from the Chandigarh Administration for not constructing a service road parallel to the Uttar Marg, which could have eased the traffic burden.
The Amicus Curiae, Advocate Tanu Bedi, also submitted a detailed long-term holistic traffic management and parking proposal to provide sustainable solutions to the parking and congestion problems in and around the High Court. This plan will be taken up for consideration during the next hearing.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 3, with the court expecting a compliance report on the steps taken to resolve the traffic congestion by then.
