Shimla building owners should be allowed up to eight storeys: Sukhu

Asserting that the condition limiting houses to four storeys in Shimla should be waived off, Himachal PCC president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday said owners should be given permission to build eight-storey buildings if the state wants “to tackle the housing crisis” in the hill town. Addressing Congress municipal councillors on Saturday,Sukhu advocated the need for amendments in the Town and Country Planning Act .He also asked for lifting the construction ban imposed 13 years back on Shimla’s green belt and core areas.

Sukhu said the plot/land owners in this belt should be allowed to construct their houses if the sites don’t have any standing trees. He also expressed concern over delay in approval of the building maps and said it was causing serious hardships to people.

Justice Ahuja retires

The Himachal High Court Saturday bid farewell to Justice V K Ahuja,who demitted office after more than 38 years of service. He was appointed Judge of the High Court on November 27,2006.