BJP MLA Inder Singh Gandhi Opposes Retaining Behna and Dhaundi Wards in Mandi Municipal Corporation.

Shimla:

BJP MLA from Balh assembly constituency of Mandi district Inder Singh Gandhi has strongly opposed the state government’s decision not to consider removing Behna Ward-14 and Dhaundi Ward-15 from the Mandi Municipal Corporation and restoring them to the panchayat system.

In response to Starred Assembly Question No. 4381, the government stated that there is currently no proposal under consideration to exclude Behna and Dhaundi wards from the Mandi Municipal Corporation and bring them back under panchayat administration.

The government also stated that the pending election in Behna Ward would be conducted at the earliest in consultation with the State Election Commission.

Reacting to the response, MLA Gandhi described the government’s position as “anti-public” and urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh to reconsider the matter in accordance with the demands of local residents.

Gandhi said the two wards lack several basic civic facilities, including proper roads, drains, streetlights, sewerage systems and adequate drinking-water arrangements. He questioned the imposition of municipal taxes on residents when essential urban services are allegedly unavailable.

He claimed that the Congress government had earlier given assurances regarding the restoration of the areas to the panchayat system and urged it to honour those commitments.

Gandhi further demanded that municipal elections in the affected wards should not be conducted until the issue is resolved and the views of local residents are taken into consideration.