In a decisive move to ensure safety, the Uttarakhand High Court has ordered the demolition of dilapidated buildings near the Kalagarh Dam, located in the core area of the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve.
The directive comes after the Kalagarh Welfare and Upliftment Committee filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) aiming to safeguard the interests of the residents of these buildings. The court’s order was addressed to the District Magistrate of Pauri Garhwal, Ashish Chauhan, and the Director of the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve, underscoring the urgent need to address the risks posed by these unsafe structures.
During a recent survey conducted on February 12, which included officials from the Revenue, Forest, and Irrigation Departments, 72 buildings were identified as being in a dilapidated state. An additional 25 buildings, owned by the Forest Department, were also found to be unsafe and in need of demolition to prevent potential hazards.
Chief Justice G. Narender and Judge Alok Mehra of the Uttarakhand High Court emphasized the importance of conducting the demolitions carefully, directing that the process should not damage the areas where people are living permanently. They ordered that the public be notified about the demolitions 15 days prior to the commencement of the operations.
The court also stipulated that the demolitions be carried out swiftly and efficiently, with both the Pauri Garhwal District Magistrate and the Director of Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve required to submit their reports on the progress to the court.
