Delay in clearances hindering works, rue Shimla councillors

Shimla, January 29

BJP councillors raised slogans in the monthly General House meeting of Shimla Municipal Corporation today over the delay in clearances by the Forest Department, which was hindering developmental works, including ambulance roads, in some parts of the city.

The councillors claimed that there was no satisfactory response from officials of the Forest Department regarding the delay in clearances and they were not listening to even the Mayor.

On the issue of the implementation of “green tax” in the city, MC Commissioner Bhupender Attri said the MC was consulting firms for the collection of green tax to ensure that the smooth movement of the vehicles was not disturbed. “A committee under the chairmanship of MC Joint Commissioner has been constituted to examine the issues related to the imposition of green fee,” he said. However, no meeting of the committee has been conveyed yet.

Besides, the Shimla Municipal Corporation will be issuing new tenders for designing, manufacturing, installation as well as maintenance of 15,000 streetlights in Shimla in February.

During the House, the councillors expressed concern over the defective streetlights. Replying to a question asked by Summerhill councillor Virender Thakur, the Commissioner said those were being repaired on priority and talks with the representatives of Energy Efficient Services Ltd (EESL) were underway.

He said the agreement between the MC and EESL was set to expire on February 24.

The issue of handing Town Hall building back to the Municipal Corporation was also raised. Responding to it, the Commissioner said it was not possible as the matter was sub judice.