Sanctity of heritage Ridge at Shimla sold out in lieu of money
3 min read
Shimla Ridge
Shimla, July 3 – Shimla Municipal Corporation and Shimla District Administration are breaching the sanctity of heritage Ridge Ground and Mall Road by allowing political parties, businessmen, and enterprises to literate it by putting shabby posters, banners, huge tents, and even building food stalls and hanging clothes on railings.
A copy of the agreement with UNI executed recently by the administration allowed the heritage places for business use. An agreement was inked on May 23, 2023, between the Additional District Magistrate (L & O) and M/s. Prince Trading Company, through its representative Ravinder Singh, resident of Lower Julkhari Chamba, for the allotment of open space for various activities at various locations at and around Ridge Shimla.
Administration mentioned in the document that the terraces of Padam Dev Commercial Complex Phases I and II at the Ridge Shimla Ice Skating Rink, Lakkar Bazaar, front of Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, Terrace of Rotary Club, Mall Road, front of Panchayat Bhawan building, and Bus Stand Shimla are to be allotted to Ravinder Kumar for different activities.
The administration offers a rate of Rs 40,81,181 (Rupees Forty-One Lakh Eighty-Three Lakh) including GST, with effect from May 1 and 2, 2023.
Administration in the document permitted the second party to not carry out any business or activities in the above-mentioned places that are in contravention of any law or otherwise illegal in any manner. The second party has submitted a sum of Rs 16,73,284 (Rupees Sixteen Lakhs Seventy-Three Thousand Two Hundred Eighty-Four as an advance.
The administration is however not allowed to display or exhibit any advertisement or placard or put up a hoarding part of the interior or exterior other than those expressly permitted in writing by the Chairman of the International Shimla Summer Festival Committee and the Deputy Commissioner, Shimla.
It is worthwhile to mention that administration did not permit the second party to violate SoPs issued by the government of Himachal Pradesh or the Govt. of India about the prevention of COVID-19 from time to time, but no one bothered to enforce them.
The administration seemed to not bother about the sanity of Ridge as huge hoardings were being displayed on the walls of Mall roads and buildings, heavy machinery, including electrical generators, and vendors were allowed to litter the pavement, and through cookies on the heritage places.
Permission for business activities also extended from May to June, which crowded the open space in the peak tourism season when footfalls of tourists remained high.
The decision to allot public places left local businessmen in a bind, who are facing huge losses due to the setting up of stalls by outside businessmen.
The sanitation of historic Ridge ground further poses danger as piles of garbage are seen everywhere on the historic Ridge ground, teaming out of dustbins.
At the same time, businessmen from outside states are drying their clothes on the ridge itself after bathing in the open. The photographs went viral on social media.
The decision of the administration to tarnish the scenic beauty of Shimla The busts and landmark statutes also show disrespect to great leaders like former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
It is frequently allowed to put up huge stalls on the terrace of Shimla’s Padmadev Complex, displaying exhibitions and food stalls. Tourists and locals hardly bother to throw garbage or litter at such landmarks.
