Ban on Construction in Shimla

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 Ban on Construction in Shimla

“Once known as the Queen of Hills, Shimla is fast becoming an urban nightmare, because of haphazard construction,” states a report of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). The report has recommended complete ban on construction in the entire Shimla planning area to save the hill town from further degradation and denudation. A recent study of World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that there is sufficient evidence that outdoor pollution causes lung cancer (Group I) and air pollution is a leading environmental cause of cancer deaths across the globe.  It has identified 17 green belts which were notified on December 7, 2000 spread over an area of 414 hectares in Shimla town. The areas include Sanjauli, Dhali, New Shimla, Khalini, Kaithu, Chakkar and Ghora Chowki. Population pressure has caused rapid urbanization of the town that aggravates the environmental pressure on the entire eco-system of the hill region in Shimla, states the report. The matter was taken up by the Department of Environment in December last year. The study was conducted for the first time at the behest of the state Cabinet decision and assigned to the Society for Environment Protection and Sustainable Development of hill State. The report comes as a shock to those who have owned plots in these areas and the real estate developers who expected that the ban on construction would be lifted or relaxed. On the basis of this report, the state government will take a final decision whether to lift the ban or impose complete ban on construction activities in these belts. The state government may also allow partial relaxation in construction activities. Since long the environmentalists have been opposing construction activities in Shimla and its surroundings but there was also a demand from those who have owned plots in these areas and pressuring the government to allow them to construct houses.  Notably, a satellite imaging done in 2002 has revealed some startling facts. An examination of the 2002 satellite imagery of a majority of the localities in the town with the present situation in 2013 made some startling revelations. The report further mentions, “The spurt in construction has gobbled up vast stretches of lush green belts in and around the capital town and now, the concrete jungle is spreading its reach beyond peripheral areas.” The report highlights degradation of green belts by comparing 17 green belts with the rest of Shimla town. It has been noticed that the development in these 17 belts has been controlled because of the complete ban on construction in these areas. However, there is a drastic change in land use outside these green belts. A large number of structures have come up in these areas over the past 10 years. The EIA report has also recommended that eco-sensitive zones within the Shimla Planning Area be developed. It has been recommended that these should be free from human habitat and vehicular traffic along with creating walking zones. Another important recommendation is to enhance tree and vegetation cover for maintaining air quality in the area. Another recommendation is to undertake plantation on all open lands and plots, both government as well as private. It has also been suggested that private lands be taken over by a competent authority, rain-water harvesting structures be made mandatory and ensure that these are functional. The EIA has also kept in mind the seismic and hazard risk to the town in case of earthquake. It has also analysed and tested soil strength and air, water quality of Shimla and its surrounding area
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