Top cops get traffic duty
Written by Writer on Saturday, October 25th, 2008
Top cops get traffic duty
25 Oct 2008, TNN
CHANDIGARH: That traffic on the Panchkula-Parwanoo stretch has become unmanageable was established when the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday directed the Panchkula SP to ensure a smooth ride on the national highway. He would be required to step in till a committee is formed to monitor the situation.
With that, the onus of keeping the roads unclogged has been put on the state’s top cop as the HC has asked the Haryana DGP to personally monitor the worsening situation. Upping the ante, the division bench of justice Uma Nath Singh and justice Daya Chaudhary asked the SP to depute an officer of the rank of DSP, especially for the purpose of managing traffic there. Further, those found parking their cars illegally on the road would be in for greater trouble as the HC called for providing the DSP with more than one recovery van. Importantly, the SP has been asked to remain present in the court on the next date of hearing, which is November 7.
The court also directed its ire against UHBVN, with justice Singh reprimanding its MD Vijender Kumar for the delay in removing electricity poles along the stretch.
The bench was particularly angry over the fact that it took one year and 10 months for the nigam to move nearly 300 poles. The MD stated the lag was due to the fact that power utility was guided by the norms of HSERC in removing them and they had to search for alternative locations away from residences.
This irked the court further, and Kumar was chided for making uncalled for statements in the court.
‘‘We have summoned him to the court for instructions. He shouldn’t make a statement,’’ the bench asserted, before giving two days to the MD to ensure removal of poles. The UHBVN counsel accused the NHAI of not making timely payment for the removal, asserting only seven poles were to be uprooted.
