15 panchayats of Palampur resent move to bring villages under TCP Act

Residents of 15 panchayats of Palampur have lodged a strong protest against the decision of the state government to bring their villages under the jurisdiction of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act. The residents of these panchayats comprising 76 revenue mohals have asked the government to withdraw its decision immediately as since their villages have been brought under the purview of the TCP Act, their lives have become miserable and they cannot construct even a cowshed without the permission of the TCP Department.

In August last year, the state government had brought 76 more revenue mohals comprising 15 panchayats of Palampur subdivision adjoining Palampur city under the purview of the TCP Act. The Secretary, Town and country Planning Department, had already issued a notification to this effect on August 20, 2024,

Now, rural areas from Palampur to Dadh and the other side up to Maranda town have been brought under the ambit of the TCP Act. The villagers are on a warpath against the decision of the state government. The main objective of the government is to check large-scale and unplanned construction activities going on in the foothills of the Dhauladhar ranges, which fall in the seismic zone 5. They have already announced that Kangra district will be made the tourism capital of the state and this was the first step towards this decision. Many hotels, resorts and homestays have been built here in the violation of the TCP norms.

Official sources told The Tribune that the government had taken the decision in the wake of the directives of the High Court of Himachal issued last year that the entire state, including rural areas, must be treated as a ‘planning area’ where building norms were applicable. The Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department had sought the guidance of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department in framing construction guidelines, which had now been finalised.

Though all 56 urban local bodies in Himachal are covered under 57 planning areas and 35 Special Area Development Authorities (SADA), many rural areas are witnessing rapid construction activity such as of hotels, guesthouses, real estate projects or educational institutions.

“The High Court had issued directions that we must bring all potential high-growth areas, adjacent to existing towns or popular tourist destinations, under the planning areas so that construction is undertaken as per the norms. As such, the TCP Department has prepared development plans for many high-growth areas so that construction activities can be regulated,” a TCP officer said.