No construction in green areas in Shimla: govt

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister Kaul Sigh Thakur today told the Assembly that "no construction would be permitted in green areas in Shimla but there was no ban on constructions in core and restricted areas".

Replying to a question of BJP MLA Rajiv Bindal, the minister said the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed the ban on constructions in Shimla and till the ban is in place, no construction can be allowed.

He said that the ban was first imposed in August 2000 and it was endorsed in February 2011 and May 2014 and NGT has also passed similar orders.

When Suresh Bharadwaj, local BJP MLA, said plot owners in the green areas are suffering losses and they should be given some relief as many such areas where there was no tree have been included in the green area while areas with thick tree cover had been kept out, Singh said the government would consider this matter.

The minister said permission has been given for construction of 283 residential and commercial buildings in core area and reconstruction of 11 houses in restricted areas in the past three years.

Replying to a question of Congress MLA Anirudh Singh, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil said the government would consider raising the compensation for security personnel laying their lives for the country in the battle field or in special operations.

He said that at present ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh was given for the families of those who die in war while the compensation was Rs 20 lakh for those killed in special operations like attack on Pathankot airbase.

At this stage, leader of the opposition P K Dhumal, who was joined by party MLA Inder Singh, said that "martyrs are martyrs" and there should be no discrimination in amount of relief .

Shandil said the ex-gratia grant was started after the Kargil war which too was an undeclared war and it is a now a national policy.

He said that so far 35 martyrs have been given the grant in the past three years.