Sanitation facilities on highways: HC directs NHAI,PWD officials to appear tmrw

The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Wednesday directed two senior officials of the National Highways Authority of India and the state PWD to personally appear before it tomorrow in a matter related to availability of sanitation facilities on highways.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Sandeep Sharma directed the NHAI Engineer-in-Chief and the additional secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (HPPWD) to personally remain present in the court tomorrow.

It passed the orders on a petition taken up suo motu by the court as a public interest litigation (PIL) writ on the status report filed regarding availability of various sanitation facilities on the highways in Himachal Pradesh.

The high court in its earlier orders had shown deep concern on the issue and had directed the state to consider the suggestions regarding construction of public, private toilets on highways keeping in view the safety and security of women.

It has also made it mandatory for all the dhabas/ restaurants on the highways to make available public toilets, provide medical aid at appropriate places, in case of any emergency and directed drivers and conductors to stop their vehicles at places where the commuters can avail facility of toilet apart from taking refreshment.

Noticing the "inaction" on the part of the state, the court was of the view that either its orders "are not being communicated to the government or the persons dealing with the same are not apprehending the importance, urgency and the sensitivity of the matter.