Doon MLA, locals oppose move to upgrade Baddi MC
Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary today opposed the Cabinet decision to upgrade the Baddi Municipal Council to a corporation. He said that local residents had opposed the proposal as they would not be able to practise animal husbandry in an urban area and would have to pay taxes.
He said that the Congress government had accepted a proposal, which the previous BJP government had rejected without seeking suggestions from people, who would be affected by the decision.
The Doon MLA and councillors of the Baddi Municipal Council had opposed the proposal and suggested to the government to expand the jurisdiction of the Baddi civic body instead of upgrading it to a corporation.
Now, Baddi and the Barotiwala industrial area among 19 panchayats would be included in the municipal corporation. Baddi was looked after by a municipal council while other areas, including Barotiwala, being rural were regulated by panchayats till now. However, it is not clear whether the government has accepted the full proposal as some panchayats have been partially included in the new corporation.
Several panchayats had opposed the proposal fearing taxes would be levied on them and stringent building laws would be imposed under the corporation. Residents of the Housing Board Colony at Mandhala had demanded their inclusion in the corporation.
However, the upgrade of the municipal council to a corporation would ensure uniform infrastructure development in the area lying in the precincts of Baddi and Barotiwala, which have acquired an urban character due to the presence of big industries.
The 19 panchayats, which have been included in the corporation, are Sandholi, Haripur Sandholi, Malpur, Bhatoli Kalan, Katha, Bated, Tipra, Barotiwala, Dharampur, Kunjhal, Jharmajri, Balyana, Burranwala, Kotla, Kalyanpur, Surajmajra Gajjran, Judi Khurd and Judi Kalan.
The Cabinet decision would have several ramifications as the role of the Baddi-Barotiwala Nalagarh Development Authority (BBNDA), which was constituted on November 30, 2006, as a planning body would be dwarfed. Only Nalagarh would be left under its purview, which was already being looked after by a municipal council.
The BBNDA essentially deals with planning and clearing building maps in the area and the corporation would also perform similar functions. Bereft of funds, the authority had been reduced to a redundant entity over the past few years.
Multiple agencies like the municipal council, BBNDA, Public Works Department, Himachal Housing and Urban Development Authority and the HP State Industrial Corporation carrying out developmental works in the area is fraught with problems. The aim of the decision to upgrade the council to a municipal corporation is to streamline the functioning with one agency being responsible for development.
BJP govt had rejected proposal
The present Congress government has accepted a proposal, which the previous BJP government had rejected, without seeking suggestions from people, who will be affected by the decision.
Ram Kumar Chaudhary, Doon MLA
