Karcham project: HC stays digging, blasting activities

The Himachal Pradesh High Court today stayed any excavation, digging and blasting activity pertaining to 450-MW capacity Shanghton Karcham Hydro-electric project at Reckong peo in tribal Kinnaur district.
A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice R B Misra and Justice V K Sharma passed the orders on petitions of the Central government and the Western Command authorities.
The Centre has alleged in its petition that the HP Power Corporation Limited went ahead with the tendering process and allotted the project to a company which commenced work despite several objections raised by the Army.
The petitioners submitted the project is in vicinity of the Ammunition Point of 36 Sector Ordnance Maintenance Platoon and blasting being carried out to construct a road next to the Point could seriously undermine the safety of the ammunition.

The petitioners also contended that a notification was issued in 2005 restricting construction activities in some 1200 yards area around the Ammunication Point.
The Bench directed only such activities could be undertaken which might not directly or indirectly affect the security measures.
The court listed the matter for further hearing on April 11.