Mahapanchyat seeks scrapping of Bir-Billing development authority

Residents of six panchayats in Bir-Billing today held a mahapanchayat near the paragliding landing site and demanded the immediate scrapping of the Special Area Development Authority (SADA) set up by the state government for the planned development of the Bir-Billing.

Hundreds of residents of six panchayats — Bir, Chogan, Keyori, Gunehar, Bhatto and Sansal — lodged a strong protest against the functioning of SADA and urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to intervene in the matter and keep their villages out of the jurisdiction of the authority.

The protesting villagers alleged that SADA had made their lives miserable as it had failed to deliver the goods and had rather become a headache for them. They claimed that people were unable to construct even a cowshed without the approval of SADA.

Raising slogans against the state government, the protesters said they will intensify their agitation from tomorrow against the government move.

Anjana Devi and Suresh Kumar, pradhans of Gunehar and Bir, respectively, told the Tribune that the notification including many other villages in SADA was issued last month without taking the panchayats into confidence, a move, they termed, illegal. The pradhans said they had met local Congress MLA and CPS Kishori Lal and the Baijnath SDM to register their protest.

In case the government failed to withdraw the notification, they shall move the Himachal Pradesh High Court and also intensify the agitation, the pradhans of six panchayats said.

They claimed that the government had failed to provide facilities to the areas already included in SADA. “Just 10 per cent of the funds being collected from the locals under SADA are being used on local development. The villagers would face difficulty in raising buildings on their own land after inclusion in SADA. We oppose the government’s move,” said a protester.

Collectively known as Bir-Billing, the area hosted the Paragliding World Cup in 2023. Bir is referred to as the ‘Paragliding capital of India’ and is fast becoming a mecca for paragliding enthusiasts and adventure sport lovers from across the world.

Billing, the launching site is in meadows, is 14 km north of Bir. The take-off point is situated at 8,000 ft above sea level and offers a great flight. The landing site is on the southern edge of Bir and approximately 4,500 ft from sea level.