Scrap special development authority: Bir-Billing locals

Our Correspondent

Palampur, August 12

Residents of four Bir-Billing panchayats — Bir, Keyor, Gunehar and Chogan — have demanded immediate scrapping of the Special Area Development Authority (SADA) set up by the government for the development of the two places and replacing it with a municipal council. In this regard, panchayat pradhans, representatives of hotels and restaurant associations, and residents participated in a meeting held at Bir Forest Rest House today.

A panchayat pradhan said, “As the SADA has failed to deliver the goods, the government should immediately form a municipal council to push development activities in this budding tourist destination and stop rampant illegal and unplanned constructions.” The pradhan added that in the past six years, since the SADA was formed, the region had been marred by illegal constructions.

Residents criticised the SADA for its complicated rules like advance approval for the construction of houses, shops and other buildings in the area, leading to further delays. Despite providing the requisite information, building maps were not cleared, which had led to illegal constructions in the area, they lamented.

“The villagers cannot construct even a cowshed without the permission of the SADA. Besides, it takes months to get the approval of site plans of residential houses and other buildings from the SADA,” said Bir pradhan.

All four panchayat pradhans said the SADA was constituted for the welfare of local residents and development of the area, but it had become a headache for them because of the “irresponsible and non-cooperative behaviour” of the officials concerned. They said despite meeting the Chief Minister and local MLA, no improvement was seen in the functioning of the SADA. Rather, the situation had become worse, they added.

“Efforts are being made to approve site plans in a month, but in most of the cases, violations like encroachments on government land, no parking areas proposed, no proper setbacks left and no controlled width of five metres followed on roadside buildings are common. Therefore, the approval of such a building gets delayed. Powers to relax such norms lie with the state government, which must listen to people’s problems,” said Baijnath SDM DC Thakur, who is also chairman of the SADA.