Work on Panchkula-Ambala national highway hanging fire for three years

NHAI officials said that the Forest Department returned the application for clearance of the project in April this year asking the National Highway Authority of India to move a fresh proposal for clearance as the stipulated three-year term had lapsed. The clearance is to be given in a maximum time of three years under the Forest Conservation Act (FC act) 1980,even as the Act specifies that the clearence has to be given promptly,said an official.

Project Director,NHAI,Anil Kumar Dahiya,said,“The application was returned to us and we have sent a fresh proposal recently.”

As per the NHAI proposal,each lane of upgraded highway will be 3.5 meters in width while the total right of way (ROW) will be extended from the current 30 metres to 60 metres. The entire four-laning will be done at near a cost of Rs 938 crore and the highway will start from Majri Chowk in the city and pass through Ambala district before culminating at Yamunanagar. For the four-laning of the National Highway,the NHAI has also procured a land of near 470 hectare land from the local farmers,officials said.

A Forest Department official said that except for the metalled road,all other areas of the highway have been declared as protected forest. “The proposal for forest clearance was earlier sent to Union Forest Ministry as it is the central government which clears the cases of forest clearance and it has been pending with them,” said a state forest official.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) C R Jotrwal,said that the matter is being looked into. “The matter has been taken up with the central government many a time.”

A Forest Department official added that there are also some trees that are coming along the highway due to which the permission is pending. NHAI officials said that construction of the highway will greatly ease the traffic and also help check mishaps on the road.