Ex-IFS officer: Put an end to Shimla’s smart city initiatives

VP Mohan, a former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, requested today that Prime Minister Narendra Modi step in immediately to halt initiatives being carried out under the Shimla Smart City Mission.

In addition to taking legal action against anybody found guilty of this behavior, he also tried to address the town’s suspected environmental corruption. Speaking to the media, Mohan said that the initiatives being carried out as part of the Smart City Mission were turning the town into a slum rather than making it smart. He said, “These projects are not appropriate for Shimla.”

“Last year’s monsoon season in the town was seen by all of us. Hundreds of trees were uprooted, causing significant damage to both public and private property, and nevertheless there is a lack of care for forest protection, according to Mohan. He went on, “Shimla will be finished if deodar trees are finished.”

Criticizing the decision to permit building in 17 green belts inside the town, he said that private consultants from Gujarat were employed for the Shimla Developmental Plan and were instructed to create a plan that would satisfy the wishes of the builders. He claimed that by asserting that the plan was created in accordance with directives from the National Green Tribunal, the courts were also duped. He said that the building in the seventeen green belts need to cease.

The former Shimla MC officer said that the unlawful constructions taking place in the town were beyond of their control.

Mohan said that while he had informed the Governor and CM about the problem, they had not yet taken any further action.