Nahan to celebrate 150 years of glory

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, April 10

The historic town of Nahan gets ready to celebrate its sesquicentennial anniversary on April 12 as it completes 150 years after being set up in 1868 during the British era.

Housing a population of about 30,000, it is among the oldest MCs of the nation and the first to be set up in Himachal. With 13 wards, the MC during the royal era had in its board four elected and four nominated members. The Nahan MC was earlier called Municipal Board and it was in 1887 that it was changed to municipal committee. It had nine members in 1904 and among them four were elected and five were nominated. They had a tenure of three years. In 1934 it had one president and nine members comprising three nominated and six elected members. The MC’s sole source of income at that time was octroi. After its merger with the royal princely state of Sirmaur in 1948, various acts were applicable to it on the analogy of Punjab. The first general elections were held in 1949-1950 and the common people for the first time elected its members. To increase its revenue in 1951, its boundary was extended to Do Sarka located on the Kala Road.

The town has royal moorings and was the capital of the erstwhile princely state of Sirmaur. The town has to its advantage an underground sewage system, well-planned and cobbled streets, which date back to the British era. It has, however, failed to be enlisted in the Centrally sponsored Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation scheme despite several efforts by the state government.

At a time when Smart Cities are coming up in the country, Nahan is perhaps among the lone MCs which could not even find elevation as a corporation.

Various historic buildings still stand tall and bear testimony to its glorious history. Among the key historic buildings include Rani Tal Park set up in 1889, Parshuram Temple dating back to 1740, kutcha tank, pucca tank, mosque and a Jain temple. The Delhi Gate constructed in 1877 and the ancient Turret Clock are the other reminders of the British era.

Deputy Commissioner, Sirmaur, Lalit Jain said efforts would be made to rope in Central funds for the development of infrastructure and promotion of tourism in the town as there was vast potential for it.

A war memorial pertaining to the Anglo-Gorkha war of 1814-1816, Shamsher School, Lal Kothi and BDO office are among the historic buildings in the town.

Ajmer Singh, Executive Officer, MC, Nahan, said the Chief Minister would lay the foundation stone of a new MC building worth Rs 6.5 crore on the occasion. In a bid to celebrate 150 years of this historic MC, all historic buildings are being refurbished. Exhibitions will be put up by 13 departments and a blood donation camp will also be organised on the occasion. All former presidents of the MC will be honoured.