Parties oppose MC decision on eco barrier for private players

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, April 27

Widespread resentment against the Mussoorie Municipal Council’s (MC) move to give out the eco-tax barrier at Kholhukhet to private players on contract has gained momentum in Mussoorie with several political leaders and social organisations coming under one plank in its opposition today.

Former Municipal Council president OP Uniyal speaking on the occasion said that the eco tax barrier at Kholhukhet was started to support the environmental works in the town during his tenure but the present MC president Manmohan Singh Mall, ‘acting autocratically,’ was trying to give out the eco tax barrier to his close aides in order to benefit them financially.

OP Uniyal further said that eco tax was levied on tourists with an objective of funding the environmental projects such as cleanliness

and removal of plastic projects in the town but the MC president was trying to give an open hand to private contractors for ‘looting the tourists’ through his decision here. Uniyal further said that MC president Manmohan Singh Mall in his election manifesto had clearly stated that he would remove eco tax from the town once in power.

Leading social activist and senior Congress leader, Megh Singh Kandari, opposing the move alleged that Manmohan Singh Mall from Congress was indulging in open loot of the MC assets affecting the development projects in the town. He said that the development of the town has come to standstill due to the actions of the MC president and the decision of leasing out eco tax barrier at Kholukhet to private players was one of such decision hindering the other much-needed works in the town.

Kandari reiterated his stand to oppose the move being proposed by Manmohan Singh Mall at any cost and if need be he would also knock the doors of the court to stall the ‘anti-people proposal of the council.’

The MC ward member from Jharipani and Youth Congress president of Mussoorie Vidhan Sabha Anuj Gupta said alleged that a big scam was brewing at the MC council decision being planned for giving away the eco tax barrier at Khohlukhet to the private contractors. He also said that MC president was planning to give the eco tax barrier to his near and dear ones by keeping the other ward members in the dark. He said that the proposal was to siphon off the Municipal Council funds in the name of increasing in the revenue generation by leasing out the eco tax barrier to private players. He said such draconian proposal will only cause inconvenience to the tourists and the residents alike in the town. Hence, his opposition to it. Another ward member Jasbir Kaur said that the eco tax was levied for the beautification and keeping the environment of the town clean but the present MC president has used the money to construct the drains at such places where these are not needed to benefit the contractors close to him.

Mall termed the opposition a political gimmick and said that the move will bring much needed revenue in the kitty of the Municipal Council.

The former ward member Kedar Singh Chauhan along with cantt board vice-president Mahesh Chand, board members Chandrakala Syana, Badal Prakash and Pushpa Padyar also opposed the move and said that they will not rest till the proposal is taken back.