Almora, Pithoragarh residents skeptical about upgradation of urban civic bodies of their towns

Almora, Pithoragarh residents skeptical about upgradation of urban civic bodies of their towns

B.D.Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, Aug 14

The decision of the Uttarakhand government to upgrade the two cities of Kumoan region namely Almora and Pithoragarh as Municipal Corporation received mixed reactions from the residents of these two cities. The Uttarakhand cabinet in its’ meeting held on August 13, 2024 decided to upgrade the civic bodies of these two cities. With addition of these two, Uttarakhand will have eleven municipal corporations.

Pithoragarh town the headquarter town of district, that was created out of a Tehsil of Almora district in the year 1960, has now a total population of over one lakh, according latest estimates. ” There are provisions that an urban body in hill region can be given status of a municipal corporation at a population of 5000,” said Rajdev Jayase, executive officer of Nagar Palika Parishad, Pithoragarh.

Formation of Pithoragarh town that started taking shape after 1815, when following Sugauli treaty with Nepal, Britishers stationed 3rd Gurkha battalion in the Pithoragarh fort  and started inviting traders to supply the soldiers daily need goods.”The town had already got the status of a town area during British era that was upgraded as Nagar Panchayat in the year 1942 thereafter as  grade four Nagar Palika in the year  1971,” said Ramesh Garhkoti, a local  resident.

According to Nagar Palika officials, they have not yet received any proposal to include some more villages in the upgraded urban body.”New villages should not be included in the upgraded urban body as the villages included in last extension are still fighting for essential facilities of sanitation, drainages and street lights,” said Jagat Singh Khati, a senior Congress leader and former chairperson of Pithoragarh Nagar Palika Parishad.

Girish Joshi, Pithoragarh district president of BJP welcomed the move of Dhami government to upgrade the urban body and thanked the Chief Minister for the decision.”Upgrading the Pithoragarh urban body as a Municipal Corporation has been taken to make the town beautiful and with more facilities. This move will initiate not only better facilities for locals but also will increase tourists footfall to the town,” said Girish Joshi.

Almora, the capital of Chand kings of bygone era, that had first got status as urban body in the year 1864 under British rule, has not responded well to the move of upgrading the urban body.” When the town has no facilities of a municipality, due to lack of funds, how it will be able to fulfill its responsibilities as a Municipal Corporation, it is a big question,” said Vinay Kirola, a social activist in Almora.

However, BJP district chief  Ramesh Bahuguna has said that the move of Dhami government to upgrade Almora as a Municipal Corporation will increase facilities in the town.”With more budget as a Municipal Corporation, the basic urban facilities will increase in Almora after the corporation comes  into existence,” said Ramesh Bahuguna.

Divided in  a total of 13 wards, Almora town has a estimated population of nearby 65000 presently.” The people are facing problems of  lack of sewerage system, roads, street lights, drinking water besides the natural problems of landslides in some localities. The result would be seen later if the town gets better facilities with the upgradation of its’ urban civic body, “said Kirola, a social activist based in Almora.