Gunehar locals go to HC over village falling under spl development authority

The residents of Gunehar panchayat, recently brought under the jurisdiction of the Bir-Billing Special Area Development Authority (SADA), have approached the Himachal Pradesh High Court seeking the quashing of a notification issued by the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department. The notification brought their panchayat under the purview of SADA and the TCP Act.

The villagers argued before the High Court that their inclusion in SADA would severely disrupt their lives. They claimed that stringent SADA and TCP rules, along with bureaucratic hurdles, would make even the construction of a simple cowshed impossible without prior approval.

The residents further highlighted that the notification, issued in August, included several villages under SADA’s jurisdiction without consulting the local panchayats or residents. This, they argued, was illegal and arbitrary.

Anjana Devi, the panchayat pradhan, expressed hope that the High Court would address their grievances and revoke the notification. She noted that residents of other panchayats already under SADA’s jurisdiction had not witnessed any significant development, despite SADA collecting substantial funds annually from the locals.

“Only 10 per cent of the funds collected by SADA are used for local development,” she said. “Inclusion under SADA would make it difficult for villagers to construct buildings on their own land.” Villagers also pointed out that despite SADA’s presence, the paragliding site in Bir-Billing has turned into a garbage dump due to the lack of proper waste disposal systems.

Kishori Lal, the local MLA, said he had raised the issue in the state assembly. He criticised the functioning of TCP and SADA, urging officials to adopt a more people-friendly approach. “Officials should not harass residents and must ensure timely approval of site plans for domestic and commercial buildings. Delays only lead to corruption,” he said. Lal also voiced his support for the villagers, stating that if SADA and TCP functioned efficiently and regularly, public opposition would diminish, and court interventions would not be necessary.

Bir-Billing, one of the world’s top-10 paragliding sites, has earned a reputation as a hub for eco-tourism, meditation, and adventure sports. This serene village offers a retreat from the chaos of cities and other crowded tourist destinations.

Known as the ‘Paragliding Capital of India’, Bir-Billing hosted the Paragliding World Cup in 2024, attracting enthusiasts from across the globe.