NGOs support setting up of Municipal Corp

Our Correspondent

Palampur, October 7

Over 36 NGOs of Palampur town and its satellite areas, including resident welfare societies, today submitted a memorandum in favor of the formation of Municipal Corporation.

The state government had invited suggestions and objections from residents before issuing the final notification for the formation of an MC. October 8 is the last date for filing of objections and suggestions.

The NGOs later called on SDM Palampur Dharmesh Ramotra and presented him a copy of the memorandum with a request to forward the same to the state government.

Addressing a press conference, a spokesman for the NGOs urged the people to support the cause, maintaining that there should be no opposition to development-related projects. He said the limits of existing municipal councils were being extended after 68 years by the government.

He said some people were misguiding the residents pertaining to imposition of heavy taxes which was far from truth. Rather, people would get better facilities when MC was formed.

Earlier, several persons appeared before the media in a press club and alleged that objections had been filed on their behalf before the local authorities by forging their signatures. A retired Major General and Divisional Forest Officer said that they never signed any memorandum but their names and signature figured in objection letters which was serious matter and the government should enquire.

Many panchayat representatives opposed the inclusion of their areas in the municipal corporation. Vijay Bhatt, panchayat pardhan of Bundla, and Anish Nag, up-pardhan of Aima panchyat, urged the state government to include only those areas which were fully urbanised.