Ex-MLA slams panchayats over soil row, calls for joint action on abandoned college building

Reacting to the ongoing dispute between Paror and Khadot panchayats over the removal of soil from a college building complex, social activist and former Palampur MLA Praveen Kumar has said it would have been far better if both panchayats made the protection, management and proper use of the large public building constructed under the development through public participation scheme a matter of priority instead of turning the soil issue into a prestige battle.

Addressing mediapersons here today he said the very campus from where soil was now being removed was secured after a major public movement in the 1990s. The land, registered in the name of the Education Department, was saved after a prolonged struggle led by then Khadot panchayat pradhan Omkar Nath Sharma. A sangharsh committee was formed, and Praveen Kumar himself served as its general secretary.

He recalled that people from 18 panchayats participated in the agitation, which continued for 36 days in different forms—hunger strikes, road blockades and protests outside police stations. Ultimately, the then Virbadhra Singh-led state government bowed to public pressure and announced the opening of a college at the site.

Later, when the BJP government, under Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal came to power, the sangharsh committee welcomed the Chief Minister in Dharmsala during the first winter session of the Assembly. Seeing the massive turnout, Prof Dhumal remarked that such a large public could itself construct a building and promised that if the people built the infrastructure, the government would provide the college.

Accepting this challenge, the committee launched a fund-raising campaign by going from village to village. Sarla Bhandari, Kuldeep Singh Guleria, Santosh Jambal of Darang and Rajendra Kanungo of Paror were among the first to contribute Rs 51,000 each. With public donations amounting to several lakh rupees, the massive building was constructed under the public participation scheme.

However, due to subsequent administrative decisions, the college was shifted first from the proposed site to Palampur and later renamed after Param Vir Chakra awardee Captain Vikram Batra. Following representations by Captain Batra’s father, the college was finally relocated to Palampur, leaving the building unused. As a result, the structure has remained neglected for nearly two-and-a-half decades.

Praveen expressed concern that the tin sheets on the roof were rusting and the condition of the building was deteriorating. He urged both panchayats to stop quarrelling over soil removal and instead jointly take responsibility for protecting and utilising the building—either as a mini-secretariat, a community centre or a venue for social and ceremonial functions—so that it could generate income and serve the people of the area.

“This building is not the property of one panchayat; it is the collective asset of the entire region, built with public struggle, sacrifice and contributions. It is our shared responsibility to preserve it,” he added.