Can shimla be saved?
The capital city of Himachal Pradesh is no longer the Queen of Hills. The state government is compounding the problem with its willingness to withdraw the ban on construction in its green zones, finds PRATIBHA CHAUHAN It is warmer than ever before and the capital city of Himachal Pradesh increasingly looks like a shanty town rather than the Queen of Hills as it has been known for long. Worse is to follow as the state government is all set to withdraw the ban on construction in 17 ‘Green pockets’ in Shimla. The proposal awaits a formal cabinet approval and realtors are eagerly waiting to cash in on the bonanza. Even more alarmingly for some citizens, the government proposes to authorise the Municipal Corporation to clear all building plans. The MC in Shimla does not inspire much confidence and its past record in curbing illegal construction has been dismal, which explains why people respond with dismay to the proposal. It is curious partly because the BJP government in the state swears