Allegations of Irregularities in Smart City Projects in Shimla and Dharamshala Raised in Himachal Pradesh Assembly

Shimla, September 22, 2023: Allegations of irregularities and concerns regarding the quality of projects under the Smart City initiative in Shimla and Dharamshala were raised during the session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Friday. MLAs Sudhir Sharma of Dharamshala and Harish Janartha of Shimla brought up these issues during the question hour, demanding an inquiry by the government.

MLA Sudhir Sharma questioned the quality of projects executed under the Smart City plan in both cities and expressed apprehensions about irregularities. He urged the government to constitute a committee to investigate the matter.

Sudhir Sharma pointed out that the Smart City scheme was initiated during the Congress regime, but the actual construction work took place under the BJP government. He raised concerns that the quality of these projects had not been adequately monitored during the construction phase. He specifically requested information about the total budget allocated to the Dharamshala Smart City project and the amount spent to date. Out of the received funds, he inquired how much had been utilized.

In response, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu clarified that Dharamshala Smart City had received a total budget of 500 crore rupees from the central government, out of which 490 crore rupees had been received. Of this amount, 396.75 crore rupees had been expended. The Chief Minister assured that any allegations of irregularities or substandard work in Smart City projects would be investigated if they were reported in writing.

Shimla MLA Harish Janartha also raised concerns about the Smart City projects in Shimla, alleging that the projects had led to illegal dumping of construction waste. He claimed that construction debris was not being disposed of at designated sites, which was adversely affecting the drainage system. He also pointed out that the Smart City projects had a role in the recent landslides in Shimla.

Harish Janartha further stated that the construction of Smart City projects was progressing at a slow pace and questioned the allocation of funds. He asked about the cancellation of some projects and inquired where the allocated funds were being diverted.

In response, the Chief Minister clarified that the construction of steel structures, similar to those used for the new bus stand, had been halted in Shimla. He stated that his government had put a stop to constructing structures that did not adhere to proper standards. He assured that the Smart City project was scheduled to conclude by March 2024, and any projects being constructed as per the correct standards would be completed.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the government was transparent in its actions and would conduct investigations if MLAs reported irregularities and deviations from established norms in writing.

This discussion in the Assembly has highlighted concerns regarding the execution and quality of Smart City projects in Shimla and Dharamshala, leading to calls for further scrutiny and investigation.