Himachal Pradesh High Court Orders Audit after Being Dissatisfied with NHAI’s Response
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) will audit the compensation allocation worth crores of rupees for illegal structures built on government land as part of the Kiratpur-Nerchowk four-lane project.
This order was issued by the Himachal Pradesh High Court during the hearing of a petition filed by the Four-Lane Affected and Displaced Committee on September 18. The court expressed dissatisfaction with the response from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
Rs 5 Crore Compensation Allocated for Illegal Structures on Government Land
According to the petition, a total of Rs 5 crore in compensation was allocated for 38 illegal structures built on government land along the Kiratpur to Nerchowk stretch. The High Court directed the Chief Secretary and the Land Acquisition Officer of Bilaspur to hold accountable the officials who approved the compensation for these illegal structures, misusing taxpayers’ money.
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Court Unhappy with NHAI’s Report on Compensation Allocations
The High Court had earlier instructed NHAI’s project director in Mandi to submit a status report on the compensation allocated for illegal structures on government land. However, when the project director submitted the report, the court expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the report was not in accordance with the law and could not be justified. The court emphasized that both NHAI and the state government should be held accountable for how they allowed taxpayer money to be allocated for illegal compensations.
CAG Ordered to Audit the Compensation Process
The court has ordered that a copy of this directive be sent to CAG for further investigation into the matter. The committee’s General Secretary, Madan Lal Sharma, expressed confidence in the judiciary, stating that the court’s decision to order an audit by CAG was a positive step toward transparency.
Further Questions Raised About NHAI’s Compensation Allocation
The key issue raised was how the Rs 5 crore allocated for compensation for illegal structures on government land was sanctioned under the Kiratpur-Nerchowk four-lane project. The court will also question which fund head this money was drawn from, and how any shortfall in the road development fund due to this allocation will be compensated. The court has sought an explanation from NHAI on this matter.
