Promising a Clean-Green Shimla, Congress assures regularisation of old construction in merged area
A week ahead of the Shimla Municipal Election ruling Congress party came out with its manifesto which was released at Hotel Holiday Home on Tuesday. The Congress manifesto promises to maintain the town clean and green & also commits to a simplification process to clear the maps pending with the civic body before 2017, the date of the NGT order coming into force.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Congress State President and Member of Parliament from Mandi Pratibha Singh, Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri, Industry Minister Harashvardhan Chauhan, and Health Minister D R Shandil were among a number of party MLAs and party former counselors and all the 34 candidates present on the occasion of the release of the Congress manifesto for SMC polls. The 12 paged documents highlighted that the party would keep the town clean and green. The first promise is to make Shimla green and beautiful by protecting nature and the environment, along with the protection of existing trees and plants under “Green Shimla” The manifesto said that it would give priority to planting new trees in vacant places so that Shimla city becomes green and beautiful.
In the wake of chaotic NGT order and lack of planning in the new and settlement of old construction, the party said that it would ensure that the town would be a well-organized city and that building construction would be simplified.
Touching on the most controversial issue of providing clearance to the pending cases of old construction in the town it said that the maps submitted before the year 2017 would be sorted out prominently. To remove the difficulties coming in the construction of new buildings the party added that the process would be streamlined by simplification, recently the government has increased the height of the “Attic” by making it a habitable area.
The manifesto said that it would also take suitable steps to regularize the multi-storeyed buildings built in the merged area including in the Shimla MC and Planning area from Panchayat and rural areas in the recent past. The party said that despite including new areas in the town to extend the boundary of the Shimla town it would continue to reinstate their old land rights. Similarly, leaseholder residents living in the newly merged or included areas in Municipal Corporation Shimla would be included in the freeholding system and they would be given ownership rights, Congress party also promised that non-agriculturists living in the city before 1971 would be given permission to build their own houses as a concrete policy would be framed soon.
In addition to 14 other guarantees, the Party also ensured an uninterrupted clean water supply in every ward with modern technology on the basis of a world-class UV method. Every consumer would be provided with a water connection without NOC on the lines of the electricity meter. To end the traffic congestion and parking mess, the party said that it would explore more space in government land for beautiful parks, parking lots, and community centers in every ward. It emphasized community venues for organizing social activities, residential parking arrangements on subsidized rates in each ward at affordable rates, and construction of commercial parking in the MC area.
It also promised to launch a Drug-Free Shimla drive to curb the increasing menace of drugs among the youth. The party said that drug addiction centers in the periphery area of town should be opened and big pedallers of drugs will be nabbed. An action center will be set up in the periphery of SMC. To make an ambulance route, a taxi facility to ferry the residents of every ward to all the hospitals and other identified places of the city.
Party also highlighted the recent announcement of state government like allowing to run the e-buses and e-rickshaw facilities and a 50 percent subsidy to be given for the purchase of “e-bus” and private truck operators for purchasing electric vehicles. The “ropeway”, widened roads, night bus service, allowing the opening of Wellness Centers, Health Care Van facilities, and Old age homes are other promises made in the manifesto. To decongest the town, Anaj Mandi, Sabzi Mandi, Transport Area, and Wood Depots are to be shifted from Shimla town after selecting a suitable place near the town.
The rent and garbage bills of the affected traders of the commercial premises and shops of the Municipal Corporation are to be waived during the Corona period. Medical test labs would be opened in all the old dispensaries of the city, “Robotic Surgery to be started in IGMC and Emergency Medicine Department will be established. The party also repeated its Budget promise to provide a Pet Scan facility at IGMC. Skill development courses and hotels to be constructed for working women at suitable places.
Party also promised to rid the town of overhead cables and power spans by putting them underground. The town would be provided with more street lights and solar lights in the left-out areas. Beautification of new areas, promotion of homestay scheme. A cycle track to be developed in between CTO. Chowk to Baluganj and around Jakhu Mandir from Ritz to Chhota Shimla and Sanjauli.
The Food eateries and Dhbas are to be allowed open in the main places to provide food round the clock for the convenience of tourists and the night hours of restaurants will also be extended. The town would be provided with more Library and reading spaces in the wards to inculcate the reading habit and improve educational activities. The SMC would also start English medium nurseries and kindergartens in big state-owned schools in the town including Lal Pani, Portmore, Lakkar Bazar, and Sanjauli, the party took vows in the policy paper.
