Shimla, June 21 -- Holding that certificates issued by panchayats cannot be treated as an assurance of safety for multi-storeyed buildings in a seismically vulnerable hill state, the Himachal Pradesh high court has directed the state government to ensure mandatory soil investigation reports, structural design assessments and stability certificates before permitting major construction projects. "The structural stability certificate must be obtained before putting the building into use, and this includes soil investigation and structural design basis reports. Furthermore, the practice of obtaining such certifications from panchayats offers no assurance for high-rise buildings proposed by private builders in the state, especially in hilly areas with steep gradients and high seismic activity," observed the division bench, comprising chief justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and justice Bipin Chander Negi, on June 18. This observation was made while reviewing compliance with earlier directions issued in a long-pending public interest litigation regarding unplanned urban development and rampant construction activities in the state. The bench stressed that Section 31-A of the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act, 1977 mandates structural stability certification, including soil investigation and structural design basis reports, before such buildings are put to use.htc...