The National Green Tribunal (NGT), headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar, is hearing cases of illegal construction in the hill town of Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh. The cases have been presented in several PILs by the Society for Preservation of Kasauli and its Environs (SPOKE).

On Tuesday (August 8), the bench ordered the inspection of Hotel Wood Creek, Kasauli Galaxie Resort, Bonzo Resort and Kasauli Resorts Pvt. Ltd. by the joint inspection team which had been composed by the bench.

Green Heights said they have seven blocks, all with the consent of the department. The bench ordered that construction be stopped and also imposed a cost of Rs 25,000. This matter was disposed of.

Seven Pines Hotel was directed to pay Rs 1 lakh as fine for constructing one extra floor beyond permission. The tribunal ordered that the top floor has to be demolished. The matter was disposed of.

The proceedings related to the 1.5 km long road from the highway to the Barog Hotel continued. The records of the town’s municipal corporation and the forest department say that there were no trees at the time of making this road. But there are no records of how many cottages and houses were there at the time of making the hotel in 1990s.

The bench directed the committee to inspect the hotel as well as all the area and file its report before August 13.

Matter listed for August 16.

—India Legal Bureau