With the matter of shifting the Uttarakhand High Court to Gaulapar hanging in the balance, the government has asked the District Magistrate to immediately find some other revenue land. It has been said in the letter of the Secretary that a layout plan of a tall building with concrete and greenery on that land should be prepared and sent to the government.
The High Court was established at Nainital in the year 2000 at the time of formation of Uttarakhand. With time, a plan was made keeping in mind the expansion of the court, the increasing number of advocates and the damage being done to the tourist destination. A few years ago, the central and state governments had planned to shift it to Gaulapar.
For this, the Forest and Environment Ministry has banned its permission in Gaulapar. It is learned that in the 82nd meeting of REC on January 24, this proposal was rejected due to it being placed in the non-site specific activity category.
The proposal to transfer forest land was rejected by the high-powered committee of the Centre. REC members asked the state government to prepare a clear layout plan specifying concrete and green footfall with a multi-storey building occupying less area in revenue land.
State Government Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pandey, in a letter written to Nainital District Magistrate Vandana Singh on February 20, said that shifting the High Court from Nainital is the top priority of the government. Citing the 82nd meeting of REC in the letter, the committee issued NOC on forest land in Gaulapar. Rejecting the grant, instructions have been given to establish courts by building tall buildings with good layout in the revenue land.
Details of the proposal for the REC meeting have been given in the letter and the government has been asked to provide information about it.While giving instructions to the District Magistrate, he said that he should immediately clarify the situation regarding the availability of revenue land and inform the government on this urgent and sensitive issue. A copy of the letter has been sent to the Principal Secretary, Forest and Environment Ministry, Principal Secretary Justice, Registrar General High Court, Commissioner Kumaon Division, Chief Engineer Public Works Department, Chief Town Planner and Executive Engineer Construction Division.