The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Wednesday issued notices to Border Roads Organisation Manali a Central government agency executing the prestigious Rohtang Tunnel project Kullu deputy commissioner and private construction M/s Garg & Garg Construction Company,directing them to file affidavits relating to the circumstances leading to the death of several labourers in the flash flood caused by the cloudburst on July 20. Notices were also issued to the meteorological department,secretary (Labour),chief engineer of the Rohtang Tunnel project,Manali sub-divisional magistrate and Kullu SP. The orders were passed by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Sanjay Karol on a public interest petition filed by Jagdish Vats a high court lawyer who has claimed that the lives of labourers,who were washed away in the flash flood,could have been saved had the administration been alert and prepared to provide necessary relief,rescue equipment and manpower. The petition alleged that state government had been casual in implementing a proposal of the meteorological department to install doppler radars to create an early warning system at different places vulnerable to such tragedies. Rajnish Maniktala,who argued in the court,said: Flash floods had struck a construction site where makeshift sheds and tents were provided by the contractor to accommodate labourers engaged in the construction of a snow gallery. The snow gallery is a crucial part of the Rohtang Tunnel project to connect the south portal with the main national highway. He claimed that there was a plan to install six doppler radars in areas including Shimla,Kullu,Chamba and Dharamshala but the government failed to take steps to equip the state with an early warning system. Doppler radars can detect various parameters of weather change up to an aerial distance of 150 km. But due to red-tapism,the project has not seen the light of day even after six years of the proposal,said lawyer added. The petitioner also drew attention of the high court towards several such projects,which are yet to take off. The court,in its order,directed the officials to file an affidavit informing about the preventive measures taken in such situations,efficacy of such measures,emergency relief operation and future course of action to avoid situations. The bench also directed the Chief Secretary Rajwant Sandhu to make clear the steps taken for the installation of doppler radars.
