Baddi colony residents protest steep hike in maintenance charges

Resentment is brewing among residents of Mandhala Colony in Baddi after the Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) imposed a staggering 122 per cent hike in annual maintenance charges. Terming the move “unjustified and arbitrary,” the Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) has demanded an immediate rollback while seeking intervention from Doon MLA Ramkumar Chawdhary.

According to RWA president Hari Chand, the colony was developed in 2012 as an integrated township across 900 bighas, out of which only 57 per cent of the 3,40,300 sq m saleable area has been sold by HIMUDA in over 13 years. “Due to its failure to optimise land use, HIMUDA has recovered only Rs 48.5 lakh in annual maintenance charges out of the potential Rs 85 lakh. Now, it is shifting this shortfall of Rs 1.756 crore onto the shoulders of plot owners through an unjustified fee hike,” he said.

Residents allege that the new charges were imposed without holding mandatory consultations. “As per the authority’s own guidelines, residents’ needs and opinions must be considered before any revision of charges. Despite a representation in May, no action has been taken,” said vice-president Harbhajan Singh.

The association also objected to the unrestricted public use of the 32-metre wide internal road, meant exclusively for colony residents. “This road connects to Kulhariwala and Sainiwala industrial area and despite being maintained by residents at their own cost, it has become a public thoroughfare,” said Singh. “It is unfair to expect us to bear maintenance expenses for a road that everyone uses.”

The RWA further raised concerns over electricity line maintenance charges, which they claim exceed actual electricity bills and are levied monthly without proper explanation.

Security lapses have added to the residents’ frustration. “The colony faces frequent thefts. Even newly installed lights in the central park have been stolen,” said members, highlighting the ingress of drug addicts, bootleggers and unauthorised commercial vehicle parking as major concerns.

The RWA has urged MLA Ramkumar Chawdhary to mediate with HIMUDA and address their grievances, including unjustified fees, safety concerns, and public access to private infrastructure.