SHIMLA: The iconic Town Hall, which serves as the seat of India's oldest civic body, the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC), has been leased out to a private party. The move has sparked outrage among citizens and political leaders, who are denouncing the decision as a blatant disregard for heritage and public interest.
What is Worse is that food chain has put up flex banners- made of banned single use plastic - in front of the Heritage building that has spoiled beauty of the iconic heritage land mark of the state capital.
The food chain has also fiddled with the walls of the building as it has made room for the the chimney for the restaurant being run in the leased ground floor of the building that has spoiled its beauty.
Former Mayor and CPM Leader, Sanjay Chauhan, has taken the lead in drawing the attention of the Chief Minister, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, to the alarming situation.
In a strongly-worded letter, Chauhan highlighted how the Town Hall, which has a 474-18 square meters area, is indisputably owned by the Municipal Corporation Shimla as per revenue records.
Constructed during the British era in 1905, the Town Hall has stood as a symbol of administrative prowess and civic pride for over a century. It has served as the nerve center of the SMC since India gained independence, conducting essential civic functions and public services.
However, recent events have raised serious concerns about the fate of this historically and strategically important heritage site.
The 2015 decision by the former BJP government to temporarily hand over the Town Hall for renovations now appears to have had ulterior motives, Chauhan charged.
Renovation was completed in 2021. But pressure from the state government led to a resolution, passed by the outgoing BJP led Municipal Corporation Shimla, to lease the building out for commercial purposes.
The current private lessee has, shockingly, converted the historic site into an international food chain outlet, completely disregarding its cultural and civic significance.
This move has ignited widespread public anger, as citizens demand an immediate reversal of the decision and the preservation of the Town Hall's original purpose.
"The constitutionally and traditionally sacrosanct town halls across the world are meant to be under the jurisdiction of the municipal bodies," said Sanjay Chauhan, stressing that the move is a clear violation of the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1994.
"By handing over the Town Hall to private hands, the former government and Municipal Corporation Shimla have not only breached constitutional obligations but also undermined public trust."
Moreover, this is not an isolated incident. Chauhan also brought attention to other properties of the Municipal Corporation Shimla, such as Taka Bench Book Cafe and Tutikandi Multipurpose Complex, which have suffered a similar fate - handed over to private entities for commercial use at the expense of taxpayers' money.
The outrage is now building momentum as citizens express their discontent with the decision, calling on the Chief Minister to intervene immediately.
Social media platforms are flooded with demands for transparency and accountability from those responsible for the lease, insisting that action be taken against those who have neglected their duty to protect public assets.
As the debate rages on, the future of the Town Hall and its significance in Shimla's civic life hang in the balance.
People of Shimla await a swift response from Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu to ensure the preservation of this iconic heritage site and its return to serving the people as intended - a symbol of civic governance and public service.
