NHAI seeks case against Kalka MLA’s relative

“ At the site he has excavated more than 100 meters of the Right of Way (ROW) of NH-22 which belongs to the Central government and in this way he has violated the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act,1980,trespassed government property and has stolen gravel from government land. He has also harmed property of the National Highway as well as the Central government,” reads the letter written by the project director,NHAI to the Panchkula DCP on January 5.

“As per the NH Act,1956,Clause8(B),any person who makes the travelling of the commuters on the highway unsafe,shall be punished with an imprisonment of five years along with a fine. You are requested to register a case against the owner under suitable provisions of IPC and Forest Conservation Act,1980,and NH Act,1956,” the letter adds.

The project director had said that he was informed through telephone by the concessionaire of the Zirakpur-Parwanoo National Highway that unauthorised excavation was being carried out next to Jhajra Bridge by Raghubir Chaudhry. “ I personally asked him to stop the excavation immediately but he told me that he is relative of MLA Sahab,” the letter mentions.

When contacted,Raghubir Chaudhary denied doing any illegal work. “ I had transported only twenty trucks from the site as we had valid permission from the state’s geology and mining department. The C&C construction Ltd has paid Rs 1,27,260 to the geology department for excavation at the site for a period of one month. And when NH authorities told us to discontinue the work,we stopped it. If it was illegal why would the geology department take money,” Chaudhary said. He also denied having made any reference of being a relative of the Kalka MLA, while arguing with NHAI officials.

Kalka MLA,Pradeep Chaudhary,however,said he was not aware of any such complaint against his cousin. “ I have no idea about the complaint and so cannot say any thing on the issue. If any one has done wrong,let the law take its own course,” the MLA said.