Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal Pradesh News : Baddi farmers oppose land acquisition for ‘Him Chandigarh’ township, stage protest march
The Himachal Pradesh government’s ambitious plan to develop a new township, ‘Him Chandigarh’, on the outskirts of Baddi has triggered strong opposition from local farmers, who staged a protest march in the industrial town on Tuesday against the proposed land acquisition.
The Himachal Pradesh government’s ambitious plan to develop a new township, ‘Him Chandigarh’, on the outskirts of Baddi has triggered strong opposition from local farmers, who staged a protest march in the industrial town on Tuesday against the proposed land acquisition.
Scores of affected villagers gathered in Baddi and submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), demanding that the government halt the acquisition of their fertile agricultural land, which they claim has sustained their families for generations.
According to the protesters, government land is being acquired in the first phase of the project, while private and community-owned land will be targeted in the next stage. Farmers alleged that the move would deprive them of their livelihoods and displace local residents.
Residents, including Sanjiv Kaushal and Nirmal Sharma, said they would not allow the acquisition of shamlat land meant for village development. They accused the government of attempting to “snatch land from locals” and sell it to real estate developers.
“The government has taken this decision without consulting us or considering its impact on the local population,” one villager said.
Farmers pointed out that a large portion of land in the region has already been acquired for projects such as railway lines and highway four-laning. They said compensation had been inadequate and acquiring more land would further reduce the limited green and cultivable stretch left in the area.
Recently, the state Cabinet approved the acquisition of around 3,400 bighas of land at Shitalpur near Baddi for the proposed modern township, planned on the lines of New Chandigarh. The Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) will execute the project, and a drone survey has already begun.
The township is proposed to span three patwar circles — Baddi, Sandholi and Bhud — and will cover both government and private land.
Villagers also criticised the local MLA for supporting the project and expressed concern over the poor condition of previous HIMUDA housing schemes in the region. They argued that improving existing infrastructure could transform Baddi into a smart city without further land acquisition.
“We do not want development at the cost of displacement,” said one protester, adding that farming and livestock rearing remain the primary sources of income for many families.
A sangharsh committee, led by Bhag Singh and comprising vice-president Gagan Singh, Pawan Kumar and others, spearheaded the protest. The committee warned that converting the area’s last remaining green belt into an urban settlement would worsen pollution and living conditions in the already industrialised Baddi belt.
