Cong smells ‘scam’ in allotment of housing projects in forest areas

“As sanctions to DLF’s housing project were given in a hurried manner by the Himachal Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) and the Shimla Municipal Corporation,we feel a big scam underlies the project,” said Agnihotri. He sought the government’s reply on the number of permissions given by HIMUDA to such developers in and around Shimla.

Congress member from Shillai Harshwardhan Chauhan attacked the government for bringing stagnation in annual plans. “As compared to 2007-08,when the state’s Annual Plan saw a 14.4 per cent increase,the subsequent years have seen it come down. During the current year,the increase was only 10 per cent,” he said. Chauhan said the state government failed to do its bit to control price rise.

BJP member Khushi Ram Balnatah lauded the government for “best financial management” and “social justice”,while Rajiv Saijal appreciated the government for creating favorable conditions to attract industrial investments.