In a scathing attack, Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday accused the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government of persistently putting the state "on sale" under the pretence of development projects. Thakur alleged a pattern of transferring precious state land to private entities and close associates, raising serious concerns over corruption and environmental damage.
Allegations of Massive Land Transfer in Sheetalpur
Thakur, in a statement released from Shimla, pointed to a specific cabinet-approved plan to develop a township on 3,485 bighas of land in Sheetalpur, Solan district. He claimed this is part of a larger, corrupt design. According to the BJP leader, the circle rate value of this land is approximately Rs 754 crore, but its actual market value is over Rs 5,000 crore due to its prime location near Chandigarh.
He issued a stark warning regarding the project's location, stating it falls within the ecologically sensitive Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) region. Thakur emphasised that any large-scale disturbance in this area could severely harm the state's delicate ecological balance, suggesting development is being prioritised over environmental sustainability.
Second Controversial Project in Morni Hills
The former Chief Minister did not stop at one instance. He alleged a similar plan is underway in the Pachhad assembly constituency of Sirmaur district. Here, 134 bighas of land in the scenic Morni Hills area is reportedly proposed to be transferred first to the Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) and subsequently to major private builders.
Thakur further accused the state administration of applying undue pressure on local panchayat representatives to secure No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for such projects, a practice he labelled as both unfortunate and completely unjustified.
A Pattern of Favouritism and Asset Sale
Expanding his critique, Thakur alleged that since assuming power, the current government has repeatedly attempted to privatise state assets and sell institutional land. He specifically mentioned the government's efforts to amend Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act multiple times, which he implied was to facilitate such land transfers.
While reiterating that the BJP is not against genuine development that benefits the public, Thakur asserted that the present government's policies are driven by favouritism and a blatant misuse of public resources. He claimed the core motivation is not public interest, but rather benefiting a select few at the cost of Himachal Pradesh's natural wealth and public treasury.
The allegations have set the stage for a major political confrontation in the state, with the opposition demanding transparency and accountability in large-scale infrastructure and township projects.
