The High Court Wednesday issued notices to the union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) and the state government in a Public Interest Litigation seeking completion of Zojila tunnel without any delay.
A division bench of Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey and JusticeSanjeev Kumar issued the notices after hearing advocate Muhammad Ismail who hasfiled the PIL seeking directions for speeding up work on the tunnel.
Besides the MoRTH, the petitioner sought directions from thecourt to the National Highway & Infrastructure Development CorporationLimited to clear all the documentary work related to the tunnel before April2019 and start construction immediately thereafter.
Advocate Ismail has sought directions to authorities todistribute the Zojila tunnel project in favour of more than two companies onboth its ends for quick completion of the project.
He has sought directions to MoRTH and managing directorNHIDCL to produce the monthly status report before the court until the projectis completed.
The petitioner has also sought directions to directorgeneral and chief engineer Broader Roads Organisation for keeping the road toKargil open during winters.
He has sought directions to the BRO’s director general totake action against the Beacon Ganderbal responsible for clearing the road fromSonamarg side.
“The sub-ordinate authority of BRO administration fromGanderbal side is totally irresponsible and also causes delay of more than 15days at the time of opening of the road.”
The petitioner also seeks direction to DG BRO for handingover the snow clearance work up to Sonamarg to the authority of BRO Drasswhich, he contended, was doing a commendable job at all times, until completionof the construction of Zojila Tunnel.
“The survey of Zojilatunnel and other ground level process was started 2013 onwards by the MoRTH andmore than five times tenders took place and is still going on for the sameprocess. Ultimately the project was sanctioned in favour of IL&FS but nowagain closed because of company came in the list of bank default on a number ofloan repayments,” pleads the petitioner.
“During harsh winter, the people of Ladakh region cannotmove outside the region, cannot have access for good medical facilities, cannotappear in exams and interviews conducted during winter, cannot apply when anypost is advertised.”
The petitioner informed the court that the government haddecided to construct the Zojila tunnel but had failed to come out of the tenderprocedures since 2015.
While assistant solicitor general Tahir Shamsi acceptednotice on behalf of MoRTH, MD NHIDCL and chief engineer BRO, additionaladvocate general Javid Iqbal accepted the same for the state government.