Allahabad: The Allahabad High Court today
ordered the UP government to halt all construction work
relating to the proposed Ganga Expressway, connecting eastern
and western borders of the state.
The order was passed by Justice D P Singh on a contempt
petition, filed by Varanasi-based organisation Ganga Mahasabha
and Allahabad-based saint Narendra Giri, which alleged that
environmental clearance for the project has not yet been
obtained.
Contempt notices were also issued to the state`s Chief
Secretary, the concerned District Magistrates and construction
company J P Infrastructure Corp Ltd by the court which fixed
Dec 2 as the next date of hearing.
The petitioners had argued that the court had, vide an
order dated May 29, 2009, stayed all construction work until a
prior environmental clearance was obtained.
However, construction work was on "in the garb of
conducting surveys" in violation of the court order, the
petitioners alleged.
The court directed the opposite parties to file their
reply by the next date of hearing.
Bureau Report
