Shimla, which was hailed as nature’s heaven and queen of the hills all over the world once, is losing its charm not only for the visitors but also locals. It is losing fast its original character of hill architecture and environment friendly buildings, peaceful and clean atmosphere and taking the shape of a concrete jungle as huge structures of concrete are coming up unabatedly.
All green patches ‘nallahs’ had been covered with these structures and greenery, in this beautiful town is vanishing and natural views spoiled. No systematic and planned development of this beautiful and historic town is taking place and rules and regulations for constructions are not being adhered to. Not only this, the policy and construction plans for the town are also being changed frequently by the Government and Municipal Corporation to benefit their favourits.
Retention policies had been brought by different State Governments from time to time in the past to regularise the unauthorised constructions which had encouraged the habitual offenders to raise their structures in the hope that their unauthorised structures would be regularised sooner or later. This had happened many times in the past. One such retention policy was in the offing last year but thanks for the timely intervention of the High Court, this could not see the light of the day. But many people, particularly builders, hoteliers and influential persons raised the unauthorised structures over night and are hopeful that these would be regularised by the Government before next Municipal Corporation elections and Assembly elections.
Blowing of cool and pollution free breeze is a he thing of past in Shimla now. Successive Governments and Municipal Corporation bodies in Shimla had contributed in spoiling the natural beauty of this beautiful town. One can judge the poor plight of this town from the fact that Shimla, which remained the Summer Capital of India during the time of the Britishers, had also been selected amongst the four towns in the world for development from heritage point of view by the UNESCO could not find place amongst 40 cities in the Country for development as a Smart Cities being developed in the Country under new plan of the present Central Government.
In the last Municipal Corporation elections, the citizens of Shimla town elected young Mayor and Deputy Mayor by rising above all considerations, including political, in the hope that they will do something for this town, but they have also disappointed them.
This idealistic summer retreat favoured by the Britishers for its England like weather was originally designed for population of less than 20,000 or so. It has swelled many, many times and is becoming an ugly urban sprawl in the Himalayas. Its population has crossed over two lacs.
Unplanned, unsystematic and haphazard constructions in the city and its suburbs are going on unabated. Hill sides are being carved out, greenery is vanishing, mother earth is being dogged out down below the water level to construct the huge structures, which had spoiled the views otherwise enjoyed by the visitors.
On sealed and restricted areas, permission to ply the vehicles of the influential and high ups is given indiscriminately. Only emergency nature service vehicles were allowed to ply on these roads earlier. This had made the movement of the pedestrians on these roads very difficult. leisurely strolls and walks is no more favored by the visitors as people do not feel safe walking on the streets.
The High Court of Himachal Pradesh in the recent past, in a public interest litigation, has directed the State Government to stop the frequent plying of vehicles on sealed routes in Shimla, except very few emergency nature service vehicles so that people are not put to inconvenience. This did not find favour amongst some young and influential legislators and they managed to get amended the Motor Vehicle Act applicable for Shimla amended in the last Assembly enabling them to ply vehicles on sealed routes in Shimla.
Public representatives are hardly bothered about inconvenience of the public. Not only the visitors had been deprived of enjoying the olden days Shimla’s environ but also faulty policies and planning of the State Government had put locals to inconvenience. More structures being allowed in the existing buildings is depriving the law abiding citizens of air and sun besides other amenities envisaged in the original planning.
For example, in New Shimla original plan was to construct two and half storey structures which had been allowed to three and half storey structures plus parking floor thus you can say four and a half storey which had put those people to inconvenience who have adhered to original planning being law abiding citizens. Similar is the situation in other parts of the town. Increasing expansion has resulted in lack of civic amenities as these are not being created in commensurate with the expansion of the town.
Though some parking came up in the city to avoid traffic jams on the roads, but no due consideration had been given for the environment as huge concrete structures had been raised like in Chhota Shimla, Sanjauli and under-construction near lift. Maintenance of roads and sewerage scheme is not getting the desired attention of the authorities. Rs500 core world bank project is being implemented for development of the city but developmental activities are being taken up in only few selected areas like Mall Road.
For restoring the old glory of Shimla, which seems to be difficult, it is essential that the city is saved from over-rowdiness and systematic and planned development is undertaken.
Shimla is not only face of Himachal Pradesh being its capital, but the entire country due to its historic, heritage and architectural importance. This needs to be preserved for the posterity, for the future generations.
(The writer is a prominent intellectual of Shimla and also a former Director, Information and Publicity, Government of Himachal Pradesh)