Merger of panchayats with Baddi MC: Doon MLA hears out villagers, vows to address their concerns

Doon MLA Ramkumar Chaudhary today listened to grievances of villagers who are averse to inclusion of their areas in the Baddi Municipal Corporation.

Villagers from areas like Barotiwala, Baliyana, Buranwala, Bated, Kotla, etc converged at Baddi and aired their grievances on the issue.

The MLA, while addressing the villagers, stated that a decision to exclude them from the upgraded civic body would be taken in the New Year after holding in-depth consultation with them and undertaking a census. He assured them of addressing their grievances.

Chaudhary who had also opposed the merger of the villages with the Baddi MC failed to prevail upon the state government.

Notably, the villagers had been opposing the decision ever since the state government notified the merger of 18 panchayats with the upgraded Baddi MC last month. They had raised a slew of objections before the Deputy Commissioner as per the state government’s directions, but to no avail as and the government went ahead with notifying the boundaries of the MC on December 23.

The villagers feared that their vacant arable land would be lost as realtors will purchase these as they no longer have to seek permission under Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972. Being a stringent provision, outsiders interested in purchasing land in the state had to seek permission from the state government.

The rural areas will also be brought under the stringent building restrictions besides payment of property tax. Though they have been granted a three-year tax exemption it was a temporary relief, opined the villagers. They lamented that the peaceful ambience of their area would be disturbed as urbanisation would be undertaken in their villages.

The state government had upgraded the Baddi Municipal Council into a Municipal Corporation, which would get Central funds for upgrading civic amenities.

These 18 panchayats included in the MC are Sandholi, Haripur Sandholi, Malpur, Bhatoli Kalan, Katha, Bated, Tipra, Barotiwala, Dharampur, Kunjhal, Jharmajri, Balyana, Burranwala, Kotla, Kalyanpur, Surajmajra Gajjran, Judi Khurd and Judi Kalan. Nineteen revenue areas from these gram panchayats have been included either fully or partially in the notification.