Hundreds of residents from eight villages in Himachal Pradesh staged a strong protest on Monday against the state government's plan to acquire their land for the ambitious Jathia Devi satellite township project. The villagers formally submitted their objections to the proposals outlined in a draft Social Impact Assessment (SIA) report.
Villagers Unite Against Displacement
The protest involved residents from eight villages under the Baggi Gram Panchayat in Shimla district and one village in neighbouring Solan district. They are opposing the acquisition of their native land, which includes houses and fertile agricultural fields, for the proposed township at Jathia Devi, located about 14 km from Shimla.
During a public hearing chaired by Shimla (Rural) Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Manjeet Sharma, panchayat representatives and villagers, including a significant number of women, made their stance clear. They declared they would not allow the acquisition of their residential and agricultural land for this project.
Surat Singh from Anji village articulated the community's sentiment, stating he learned about the plan through his gram panchayat. "This is our native land where our ancestors began agriculture. Leaving our homes and fertile land behind is not easy. We are all united against this acquisition," he said.
Scope of the Project and Local Concerns
The draft SIA report, prepared by a private consultant for the Town and Country Planning Department, outlines plans that would lead to the relocation of at least eight villages: Anji, Chanan, Shillibagi, Shildu, Kiyargi, Majhola, Dhanokhar, and Panti in Shimla district, and Maling in Solan district. The project envisions a satellite township spread over 1,944 bighas.
According to sources, the report proposes acquiring not just houses but also the agricultural land of villagers, raising severe concerns about loss of livelihood and forced displacement. Madan Shastri, former pradhan of Baggi Gram Panchayat, highlighted that nearly 266 bighas from Anji village alone are earmarked. "The land selected includes fertile agricultural plots, land belonging to deities, and villagers' houses. We have no clarity on what we will do if our agricultural land is taken. Most people here depend on farming and dairy," he explained.
Official Response and Project Background
SDM Manjeet Sharma confirmed that residents had submitted their protests against the draft SIA report. He clarified the procedural position, stating, "As per the rules, land can be acquired only after following due process and with the consent of the landowners. This is only a draft SIA report, not the final one." He added that the objections from around 300 people, including women, have been recorded and forwarded to senior officers.
The Jathia Devi township is a planned satellite town being developed by the Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA). Its primary aim is to decongest Shimla by relocating government offices and developing planned housing under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Conceived over a decade ago, the project received official planning status in early 2024 after its detailed project report was approved. However, it has faced repeated delays due to a lack of funds. With central funding yet to materialise, the state government has now decided to initiate Phase I of the township using its own resources.
