BJP biggest threat to Shimla,its environment,heritage: Cong

Asserting that the party would be retain its 25-year long hold over the Shimla Municipal Corporation,PCC president announced that a new body,that will be formed after the elections,will be given full financial,administrative and functional autonomy.

The Congress,in its manifesto,has listed at least 62 functions of the corporation which,the party adds,will be re-visited to bring in new reforms,innovations and to ensure citizens are direct stake-holders . Those elected to the posts of mayor and deputy mayor will be given complete supremacy and full decision making powers,the manifesto adds. The Congress claimed that for the first time in its history,the party had involved some experts including retired IAS officer S K Alok,retired principal secretary (Law) J N Barowalia besides a large number of citizens in the drafting of the vision document.

The manifesto accused the BJP government of systematically destroying Shimla’s green cover and environment by “sanctioning a private sector super-deluxe apartment project to Bambolie builders,patronising the land mafia to grab the Annandale ground and favouring an investor to build a spa-resort at the site of the heritage Bantony estate”.

“The Congress government had proposed to acquire the heritage property of Bantony estate and convert it into an art museum but the BJP went out of way to help an investor to set-up a spa resort. In fact during the BJP regime,Shimla has lost its green over and is faced with environmental degradation and a threat to its heritage. The Congress,if voted to power,will restore Shimla’s glory and scrap all projects that threaten the town’s existence,” the document reads.