Himachal Pradesh News
Congress Under Fire in Solan Over Unfulfilled Civic Promises Ahead of MC Polls
With the next municipal elections approaching, the Congress-led Solan Municipal Corporation (MC) is facing increasing public criticism over several civic promises that remain incomplete even after nearly five years in office. Issues related to water supply, sewerage, garbage disposal and urban infrastructure have now become major talking points in the city’s political atmosphere.
With the next municipal elections approaching, the Congress-led Solan Municipal Corporation (MC) is facing increasing public criticism over several civic promises that remain incomplete even after nearly five years in office. Issues related to water supply, sewerage, garbage disposal and urban infrastructure have now become major talking points in the city’s political atmosphere.
The Opposition BJP has intensified its attacks on the ruling Congress, accusing the civic body of failing to deliver basic public services despite repeated assurances made during the 2021 municipal elections.
Water Supply Promise Turns Into Financial Burden
One of the biggest promises made by the Congress during the municipal elections was to provide subsidised water to households at just Rs 100 per month. However, the promise could not be implemented, leaving many residents disappointed.
Instead, the Solan Municipal Corporation is now reportedly burdened with dues of nearly Rs 149.78 crore payable to the Jal Shakti Department (JSD) for water supply operations.
The situation became more challenging after the Jal Shakti Department increased the water tariff from Rs 27.71 per kilolitre to Rs 100 per kilolitre through a notification issued in September 2024. Despite the revised rates, the municipal body continued charging residents under the old tariff structure, forcing the civic administration to bear the additional financial burden.
Residents in several parts of Solan continue to complain about irregular water supply, leaking pipelines and poor distribution management. In some areas, people have even alleged that muddy water is being supplied to households, raising concerns over public health and sanitation.
Sewerage and Waste Management Projects Yet to Deliver Results
The Congress government is also facing criticism for failing to achieve complete sewerage connectivity across the city. Although efforts were reportedly made to secure Rs 188 crore under the Namami Gange scheme, the project failed to move forward significantly due to lack of adequate infrastructure investment.
Similarly, the promise of free door-to-door garbage collection remains largely unfulfilled. The municipal corporation also faced embarrassment after environmental authorities imposed a penalty of Rs 9.9 lakh over improper solid waste disposal practices.
Locals say waste management continues to remain one of the major civic concerns in many wards of the city.
Infrastructure Projects Witness Slow Progress
Several infrastructure projects announced by the Congress administration have also witnessed slow or partial implementation. These include installation of streetlights in all wards, modernisation of public toilets, construction of vendor markets and development of underground pathways.
Plans aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving parking facilities have also failed to gather momentum. An under-construction parking project on Railway Road is still awaiting completion, adding to commuter inconvenience in busy market areas.
BJP Targets Congress Ahead of Civic Elections
The BJP has started using these civic issues as a major political weapon ahead of the upcoming municipal elections.
BJP Solan city president Shailendra Gupta described the Congress tenure as “disappointing” and accused the ruling party of ignoring essential civic amenities and public concerns.
The Congress leadership, however, defended its performance and claimed several development projects were currently underway.
Outgoing Mayor Usha Sharma stated that new parking projects had recently been initiated and funds had already been sanctioned for multiple ongoing works. She also claimed that efforts were being made to strengthen water supply infrastructure and develop ward-level sewerage treatment systems for better waste management.
Civic Performance Likely to Become Major Election Issue
As election season nears, civic infrastructure and public services are expected to dominate political discussions in Solan. With residents increasingly vocal about water shortages, waste disposal and incomplete development projects, the coming municipal polls may turn into a direct referendum on the Congress-led administration’s performance over the past five years.
