HIMUDA fails to develop planned colonies in Kangra & Una districts

The Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) has failed to develop planned colonies in Kangra and Una districts for over a decade. This failure has made it difficult for professionals and non-Himachalis to find suitable residential plots or flats in these areas.

According to sources, many professionals residing in these districts have been facing challenges in securing residential accommodation, particularly as non-Himachali residents are restricted by Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Land Tenancy Act from purchasing land.

Professor Pradeep Nair, who has worked in Kangra for the past 12 years, expressed his frustration with the housing situation. He highlighted that, as an outsider, he cannot buy land in Himachal due to legal restrictions, but he is eligible to purchase plots or flats in colonies developed by HIMUDA. However, with no new colonies or flats developed in Kangra for over a decade, finding a suitable house has been a persistent struggle. Nair mentioned the inconvenience of constantly shifting between rented houses every one to two years due to the lack of available long-term housing.

HIMUDA had previously procured around 600 kanals of land in Dharamsala with the intention of developing a residential colony. However, this land has since been transferred to the tourism department, which plans to build a tourism village under the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) support. This shift has further exacerbated the shortage of residential development in the area.

When contacted, HIMUDA Chief Engineer Surinder Vashisht explained that the authority’s failure to establish colonies in Kangra and Una is due to the lack of available land. Although HIMUDA has advertised multiple times and even offered partnerships with private landholders to develop new colonies, no one has come forward.

Vashisht clarified that HIMUDA requires at least 50 kanals of land to develop a planned colony, either independently or in collaboration with private landowners.

Under Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Land Tenancy Act, outsiders are prohibited from buying land in the state. They may, however, buy land for residential purposes with permission, which requires clearance from the state cabinet and restricts the land purchase to 500 square yards. Despite this provision, HIMUDA’s inactivity over the past decade has prevented the development of new colonies or apartments, leaving non-Himachali professionals with limited housing options in Kangra and Una districts.

Non-Himachalis face housing issues

• Many professionals, especially people from outside the state, have been facing challenges in securing residential accommodation in these districts as non-Himachali residents are restricted from purchasing land.
• Under Section 118 of the HP Land Tenancy Act, outsiders are prohibited from buying land in the state. They may, however, buy land (up to 500 sq yards) for residential purposes with permission, including clearance from the state cabinet.