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Chester Hills Solan controversy: CPI(M) seeks probe, flags Section 118 violations in Himachal
Shimla, March 30,
Chester Hills Solan controversy intensifies with CPI(M) seeking probe over alleged Section 118 violations and irregular land deal in Himachal.
At a time when land laws and large-scale real estate projects are under increasing scrutiny in Himachal Pradesh, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has demanded a probe into the Chester Hills project in Solan, alleging violations of Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act and seeking disciplinary action against the Chief Secretary.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, former MLA Rakesh Singha alleged that permission for the purchase of nearly 275 bighas of land was granted in disregard of ground-level reports submitted by local officials. He claimed that the approval, issued at the level of the Chief Secretary, warrants an independent probe to ascertain whether due procedure and statutory safeguards were followed.
Singha further alleged that the developers are executing multiple projects across the state in violation of existing land laws, terming the case a “blatant violation in broad daylight.” He demanded immediate removal of the Chief Secretary and attachment of the land acquired under the project if violations of Section 118 are established. Emphasising the need to protect farmers’ interests, he cautioned against unchecked conversion of agricultural land for large-scale construction.
Raising concerns over policy direction, Singha also criticised the state government’s recent move to dilute provisions of Section 118, stating that such changes could open the door to unrestricted land transfers and commercial exploitation.
Former Shimla Mayor Sanjay Chauhan alleged that the same group of developers is being allowed to undertake high-rise construction at Cliften Estate in Shimla, purportedly in violation of Town and Country Planning norms. He said the party would submit a memorandum to the Revenue Secretary seeking attachment of the Chester Hills project and stricter enforcement of administrative hierarchy to prevent field-level deviations.
The issue gains further significance as similar concerns involving developers have surfaced earlier. A decade ago, CPI(M) had opposed a project in Bemloe, Shimla. In a related development, former Deputy Mayor Tikender Singh Panwar had filed a petition before the Himachal Pradesh High Court alleging financial irregularities linked to that project. The court had earlier restrained the Shimla Municipal Corporation from issuing water and electricity connection-related NOCs in that case.
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More recently, the Chester Hills issue was also raised in the state assembly by BJP leader Satpal Singh Sati, who sought action against officials allegedly involved in granting approvals. Additionally, a complaint alleging corruption in the project has been filed with the police by a standing counsel of the High Court, along with a separate petition before the High Court.
The Chester Hills project is also under active examination by the Himachal Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (HP RERA), with reports indicating that regulatory scrutiny into the project is ongoing.
With multiple legal, political and regulatory questions now converging around the project, calls for a formal probe are expected to intensify in the coming days.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
