Almora: It has been seven years since the District Development Authority (GDA) was implemented, but the disagreement and dissatisfaction of the local people regarding it is increasing in the hilly areas. Under this authority, implemented in the year 2017, it was made mandatory to get the map passed from the authority for building construction. Earlier, maps were passed by the municipality, which made the process of building construction much easier for the local people.
Due to these processes of GDA, the people of the area are facing many problems. Every Tuesday, people stage a protest in Chaughanpata of Almora to remove this authority. Outgoing Municipality President Prakash Chandra Joshi said that this protest has been going on continuously for seven years and the government is still not paying attention to this issue. He said that considering the geographical location of the hilly areas, the rules of the District Development Authority are not suitable here.
Allegations of corruption and financial burden
Former Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat had also admitted that the District Development Authority in the hilly areas has become a den of corruption. Local residents say that those who have financial resources get the map passed, but people from the poor section are very troubled due to this system. Under this authority, more money is spent in getting the map passed, due to which the financial burden on the poor is increasing.
Unity of All Party Struggle Committee
Under the banner of Sarvdaliya Sangharsh Samiti, local resident Anand Singh Baghwal said that this movement is an issue of important public interest. People from different sections are giving their support in this, and their one point demand is that the building construction maps should be passed again by the municipality itself.
The poor class is facing special difficulties
Local resident Shahabuddin Siddiqui says that this authority has become a curse for the poor. When people want to take loan from the bank to build a house, they have to face the condition of showing the map. If the map is not passed, they have to visit the GDA office. Due to this, the poor section of the society faces special difficulties, and housing construction has become a distant dream for them.
No solution despite assurance from government
Local resident Robin Manoj Bhandari said that the issue was discussed with the three Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand and they assured that the District Development Authority will be removed from the hilly areas. However, till now no concrete steps have been taken on this, due to which disappointment is increasing among the people.
Tags: Almora News, Local18
FIRST PUBLISHED : November 3, 2024, 10:21 IST
