Villagers demand removal from Mandi MC jurisdiction

Residents of Behna and Gutkar villages in Himachal Pradesh have appealed to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to remove their areas from the jurisdiction of the Mandi Municipal Corporation (MMC) and reinstate them under their local panchayat. A delegation led by ward councillor Krishan Bhanu met Additional Deputy Commissioner Rohit Rathour to submit a memorandum highlighting their grievances.

The villagers expressed dissatisfaction with the BJP government’s decision to merge their panchayats with MMC without local consent. They claimed the government had assured them that no taxes would be levied for five years and that areas meeting specific population criteria after the 2021 census would be returned to the panchayat. However, these promises remain unfulfilled.

The residents are particularly opposed to the proposed house tax under the “House Tax Act 2024”, citing the corporation’s failure to provide basic urban amenities such as sewage systems. Existing facilities, like streetlights and benches, are deemed inadequate for their rural needs.

Dev Raj, a resident of Behna, criticised the imposition of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, which has complicated home construction and cattle shed approvals. The bureaucratic processes involved in obtaining clearances have added to their challenges. The community also accused the government of ignoring their repeated petitions and discussions with officials, including former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. They warned that no taxes would be paid to the corporation until their demands are met.

The villagers have urged the CM to honour the assurances made during the BJP regime and take immediate steps to address their grievances.