Hilly challenges, urban needs: Shimla MC’s plea for special grant

With the aim of ensuring the holistic development of Shimla, the Municipal Corporation has formally requested the Centre to provide a special financial grant for the town. The appeal was made to address the unique challenges of executing developmental projects in hilly terrains.

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In a letter submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Mayor Surinder Chauhan pointed out that the cost of executing various development projects in hilly areas like Shimla is significantly higher compared to cities located in the plains. Due to limited financial resources, the MC often struggles to meet public expectations. In light of these constraints, the Mayor urged the Speaker to raise the matter with the Finance Commission and secure additional funds for the town. The memorandum was presented during the two-day National Conference of Chairpersons of Urban Local Bodies held recently in New Delhi.

The Mayor also highlighted the persistent difficulties faced by the MC in obtaining timely clearances from Central agencies such as the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Indian Railways and the Forest Department. He particularly emphasised that the Railways — being a major landowner in Shimla — should allow the local bodies to use railway land through land-sharing arrangements for public projects.

Further, the Mayor appealed to the Speaker to direct the Finance Commission to allocate at least 1 per cent of the environment cess as a grant to urban local bodies. He argued that despite significant contributions towards environmental protection — such as tree plantation and door-to-door garbage collection — local bodies receive no incentives. Additionally, he advocated for carbon credit benefits for Himachal Pradesh, noting that over 65 per cent of the state is covered by forests.

In response, Speaker Birla assured the Mayor that the Centre would consider all demands and take necessary steps for their implementation at the earliest.