Himachal Minister denies assaulting NHAI officers, claims there were irregularities
himassd

Himachal Minister denies assaulting NHAI officers, claims there were irregularities

Himachal Minister denies assault, alleges NHAI irregularities

Himachal Pradesh’s panchayati raj minister, Anirudh Singh, has denied all charges of assaulting officers of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). A police case was filed against him for allegedly attacking NHAI technical manager Achal Jindal and engineer Yogesh during a site visit to Bhattakufer, near Shimla. The visit happened after a five-storey building collapsed near an ongoing road-widening project.

The FIR was filed at Dhalli police station and includes charges under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. These charges include using force against a public servant, causing hurt, insulting behavior, wrongful restraint, and group involvement in a criminal act.

Speaking to the media in Shimla on Wednesday, Anirudh Singh rejected the allegations and said, “I deny all the claims. The investigation is ongoing, so I won’t comment further. This FIR is just a way to hide their mistakes and mislead the public.” He said he plans to meet Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari and demand a high-level inquiry into the matter.

Blames NHAI for damage

Anirudh Singh also accused NHAI of doing poor work on road construction projects across Himachal Pradesh. He said the projects were full of problems — including poor-quality materials, unsafe slope cutting, and construction that led to frequent landslides and building collapses. “In Bhattakufer, a building fell on June 30, and eight more buildings had to be vacated due to damage. This is due to reckless digging beyond approved land,” he said.

The minister claimed that over 700 complaints against NHAI have been filed in Shimla district alone, but authorities like SDMs and deputy commissioners have taken no proper action. “This shows total failure of the system,” he said.

He questioned how funds given for slope protection were being used. He explained that under the government’s hybrid annuity model, 40% of the project cost is paid by the central government and 60% by private contractors. However, in many cases, contractors finish only a small part of the work, then leave the site while still getting paid for two or three years of maintenance.

He further said that in places like Shimla-Parwanoo, Mandi, Kangra, and Jogindernagar, roads are being built in an unsafe way. Slopes are being cut at sharp angles, and retaining walls are too short — just 8 to 10 feet high. This is causing repeated landslides and buildings to collapse, leading to deaths and property damage.

ALSO READ: Sukhu government misleading people on Centre’s development works in Himachal, says Kiren Rijiju

ALSO READ: Heavy rainfall triggers landslides in Himachal Pradesh, orange alert issued

Seeks relief for affected people

Anirudh Singh also urged the central government to create a national policy to support people whose homes and land are affected by highway construction. He said, “Building roads is good, but ignoring people who suffer because of it is not acceptable.”

He will soon meet Nitin Gadkari in person to ask for a full inquiry into the NHAI’s work and how contractors are handling the projects. Meanwhile, the issue has sparked a political row in the state. The opposition has criticized the Congress-led government under chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari has already condemned the alleged assault, calling it “heinous.” He also called the Himachal CM and asked him to take strict action against those responsible. However, Anirudh Singh says the real issue is being ignored — the damage caused by poor construction practices and lack of proper checks on highway projects.


Comment As:

Comment (0)


Loading...