18 panchayats under Baddi MC get 3-yr property tax exemption

A three-year property tax exemption has been granted to residents of 18 panchayats who have been included in the newly notified Baddi Municipal Corporation (MC) by the state government.

Despite several objections filed before the Deputy Commissioner in the stipulated two-week period, the state government has not excluded any area from the final notification issued on December 23 by the Principal Secretary, Urban Development, Devesh Kumar. The Tribune has assessed by the final notification.

Caring two hoots for the sentiments of the residents, the state government went ahead and notified the civic body, which will be the second municipal corporation in Solan district.

The residents have only been exempted from paying the property tax for a period of three years. Among the three key industrial areas of Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh, the first two have been included in the merged civic body, while Nalagarh continues to be a municipal council. Baddi was also a municipal council. Its area has been expanded and upgraded to a municipal corporation. Nearby rural areas, a majority of whom have acquired an urban character due to the setting up of industries, have been included in the upgraded body.

These 18 pancahayts included in the MC are Sandholi, Haripur Sandholi, Malpur, Bhatoli Kalan, Katha, Bated, Tipra, Barotiwala, Dharampur, Kunjhal, Jharmajri, Balyana, Burranwala, Kotla, Kalyanpur, Surajmajra Gajjran, Judi Khurd and Judi Kalan. Nineteen revenue areas from these gram panchayats have been included either fully or partially in the notification.

The residents of rural areas resented the move, but the government chose to ignore their objections. The move had also been opposed by Doon MLA Ramkumar Chaudhary.

The step was, however, taken to enhance development activities in this industrial belt as an urban body will be able to get Central funding for development of civic amenities like water, sewerage, roads and other infrastructure. It remains to be seen whether adequate funds would be granted to hasten developmental works as the existing civic bodies are already facing cash crunch.