SHIMLA: Despite Himachal Pradesh falling to seismic zone IV and V and prone to earthquake and landslide hazards, Town and Country Planning Department of state has never conducted any study to find out what about the type of construction should be allowed in the areas under its jurisdiction. Counsel appearing for state government has submitted this before National Green Tribunal (NGT) during a hearing on Tuesday.Counsel said that Town and Country Planning Department has not carried out any study or survey to find out what kind of construction, in which area should be allowed and in which area construction should be permitted keeping in view the ecology, carrying capacity, availability of natural resources and other relevant factors. It was also stated that the Municipal Corporation Shimla had permitted construction of lifts including the public lift constructed by the Government itself, even in private buildings.Counsel appearing for Municipal Corporation of Shimla upon instructions submitted that Municipal Corporation earlier used to receive applications for sanction of plans from the Town and Country Planning Department as it was a double window system at that time and thereafter, the corporation used to sanction the plan.Counsel added that however, from 1994, the Corporation exercises its authority to grant NOC or sanctioned plan for special purposes. According to him, no study was ever carried out as to whether any plan could be sanctioned in a particular area and whether such construction should be permitted or not permitted. However, study on disaster management was carried out which has already been placed on record before the Tribunal.During the heating of case before NGT bench headed by its chairperson justice (retd) Swatanter Kumar, counsels appearing for the parties including the state government and the applicant also submitted that they would have no objection if Dr Nagin Nanda, Expert Member of NGT, who was already member of the bench continue to be member of this bench for the final hearing."We take it on record to put the matters clearly because some documents filed on behalf of the state are signed by the spouse of the expert member. We also put it on record that there is shortage of expert members in the Tribunal and there is no other member available for making complete and effective hearing of the bench, as presently, there is only one expert member at the Principal Bench," bench observed.