Large-scale illegal construction of houses, shops and hotels has been going on along the bank of Bithhi khud between Sungal and Aweri stretch on the Pathankot-Mandi national highway.
Even though this activity has been going on unabated in violations of norms, the authorities concerned have failed to act against the violators.
A number of buildings have come up on the bank of the rivulet by covering the khud with concrete slabs leaving no space for normal flow of water.
At many points the width of the river has been reduced to just three meters as against 15 to 20 meters as shown in the revenue records.
The construction has been going on even though the norms laid down by the Town and Country Planning Department and Himachal Pradesh Roadside Land Control Act prohibit such activity.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which is custodian of the Pathankot-Mandi Highway, has failed to act and serve any notice on the violators during the past five years.
Most of the buildings have come up in gross violation of HP Roadside Land Control Act, applicable in Himachal Pradesh which also prohibits construction within five meters of the highway.
Besides, there is a provision in the law against construction in flood-prone areas but most of the areas of Pathankot-Mandi highway passing through Kangra district are dotted with hotels, guesthouses, petrol pumps and residential houses.
The Engineer-in-Chief, who retired from the HP State Public Works Department, says that the NHAI should go for demarcation of roads in this stretch of the highway immediately and stop the illegal construction which is a matter of concern. He says the width of the highway in this part is 25 meter to 35 meters.
The entire Dhauladhar ranges of Kangra district fall in the seismic zone-V and are prone to flash floods, natural hazards and cloudbursts. It seems people as well as the administration have not learnt any lessons from the flash floods which rocked the state in 2023, killing nearly 200 persons. Despite specific orders of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department imposing a complete ban on constructions on river beds, the activity continues on the bank of Bithhi khud.
