Affected residents of Shimla by NGT order still out of SDP : Mins

Around 9200 residents living in Shimla Merged area and others places in Shimla MC yet to be regulated would not be cover by the new draft of Shimla Development plan unveiled here tuesday, the concerned minister said.
Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said that around 9200house and plot owners who have submitted their maps under a one time retention policy brought by Virbhadra Singh Government in 2016-17 could not be cover in new SDP.
He said that all the constructions being done in the Shimla MC and pending for the approval with MC and TCP to be regulated by the Jai Ram Government.
He assured that similar move to regularise the old construction are under process likely to be announced soon.
Minister annouced that NGT passed an order in Nov 2017 which restricted the construction in the core area, residential green area .
He said these categories of area were identified and included in the interim development plan in 2002. 
” Following NGT orders to restrict construction in many places in the town and number of haphazard constructionsare going for long time ” he said
 Minister said that Shimla  Interim Development plan came in  existence in year 1979 could not gain finality in last 40 yrs.
“Without having any definite Development Plan it could not be ascertain that which zone should be distinguished to what activity.” Minister said.
The Britishers while taking over the town as summer capital also constructed Shimla on a special line of development.
It became state capital of Himachal after independence and with increasing income of people and local economy many decided to reside here after builting their homes, he said
National Green tribunal came into existence inform of NGT Act 2010 and it  passed number of orders to restrict construction activities moreover town and its residents affected by its order passed in Nov 2017 about Shimla Plan area. 
An Order was also passed by the High court to affect the construction activitiesin Shimla planning area. 
Minister added that an appeal or SLP filed by state government is also pending before the Superme Court against 2017 NGT to declare it null and void.
 He said that  since four years state Government keep in engaged in SPA tobring the new development plan for Shimla
He disclosed that Urban Development and Town and Country planning department is also proposing similar developmentplans to other areas of state for regulate and planed constructions and such more  Development plan draft likely to be designed and released subsequently withcompletion of this process in future.
By bringing Development Plan  this government is trying to extend its benefit to new areas being merged in Shimla and other parts of the state by making them benifciary and stakeholders with wide consultations with them

Replying to query regarding the legal status of SDP unveil today in view of pending litigation in the court, Minister said that State could come out with the development plan and NGT does not supposed to govern the planning areas being the quasi judicial bodies but it could passed order according to its constitutional mandate.
Dose the government would complete the development plan of Shimla in wake of upcoming  Shimla MC election and Assembly elections this year Minsiter evaded the query stating that government shown guts to come up with the development plan which no governmentin past 40 yrs state could finalized including four BJP governments also had ruled the state. 
Jai Ram Government becolame first government which have scripted the
history to draft the SDP in last four years.
When questioned that it would be effect by notification of Shimla MC poll soon Minister said that State cabinet is committed to complete tedious process after inviting a month of public objections from today onwards.
He also urged the people of the town to come up with their suggestions and objections to join the process.
Mr Bhardwaj said that people are free to give their suggestions and they could demand the more floors being proposed in the draft.
The  department and government would consider the suggestions after reviewing it.
The construction being regulated to one, two, three and four floors keeping with presence of plot in the green, heritage and core planning area and varying size of plots however construction bylaws in the outside three aforsaid areas  would kept more open, he added.