The Congress and residents of nine villages which are under the purview of the Pauri municipal board have come out in support of the public demand for constructing the new Collectorate building in the jail garden instead of demolishing the old Collectorate building to facilitate this.
The villagers are also opposing the imposition of house tax on their hamlets. The villagers met Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj at Satpuli during his recent tour and informed him of their support on the Collectorate issue and opposition to the house tax issue. The Pauri municipal board Chairman Yashpal Benam also met Maharaj and sought that the colonial era Collectorate building be demolished to construct the new one.
However, the MP told him that the issue was in the hands of the State Government and district administration in addition to which the interests and will of the people will be given top priority in such decisions. Recently, the residents of nine areas including Kandai, Pauri, Bangwari, Timli, Chopra, Malli Rai, Bichali Rai, Gadoli and Cuincha had demonstrated against Benam's adamant demand on the Collectorate issue.
They also demanded that the proposal of board to impose house tax on the nine villages be cancelled. They pointed out that the nine villages had been kept out of the scope for house tax when they were brought under the purview of the municipality. The municipal board should work to ensure proper garbage disposal in the interest of the public and environment, they stressed.
On the other hand, the Congress, too, has come out in support of the construction of the new Collectorate building in the Jail garden instead of demolishing the old building as sought by Benam. This is being seen as a setback to the municipal board chairman, who along with his supporters had demonstrated in support of the demand for demolishing the colonial era collectorate building to construct new building and building of a park in the jail garden on August 8.
At a meeting held on the Ramlila ground recently, the Congress opposed the proposal of the municipal board chairman while point out that the Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna had already laid down the foundation stone of new collectorate building. The party members also condemned the proposal to impose house tax on residents of nine villages calling for its withdrawal.