Haldwani Municipal Corporation has extended the deadline for 1240 shop tenants to deposit rent while claiming the available concession. The decision was taken at the corporation board meeting held on Monday, with the revised deadline set for December 31.
The board also made clear that the concession period will not be extended beyond October 31 in the future. The meeting approved 17 proposals linked to city development, sanitation services and increasing the corporation’s income.
Board meeting considers civic and administrative proposals
The meeting began at morning 11:00 in the municipal corporation auditorium under the chairmanship of Mayor Gajraj Singh Bisht. Nominated councillors Dinesh Bisht and Sanjay Bhojak were sworn in before the board took up the agenda.
Among the approved proposals was a plan to build a hostel for Scheduled Caste students at Municipal Corporation Inter College, Kathgodam. The board also approved an increase in college teachers’ salaries and the formation of a new sanitation committee.
Officials from the revenue department, police and Jal Sansthan were absent from the meeting. The mayor expressed displeasure and directed Municipal Commissioner Paritosh Verma to issue notices to the departments concerned.
The mayor said the presence of officials from public-facing departments was necessary during board meetings. Municipal Commissioner Paritosh Verma, Senior Municipal Health Officer Dr C.S. Tolia, Assistant Engineer Naval Nautiyal, Assistant Accounts Officer Ganesh Bhatt and Office Superintendent Girish Bhatt were among those present. A total of 58 councillors attended.
Woman councillor stages protest over damaged roads
Roads dug up across several wards became a prominent issue during the meeting. Bhagirathi Devi, councillor from Ward 56, sat on the floor of the House in protest after expressing anger that repeated assurances had not led to repairs.
She said residents were facing difficulties because of the poor condition of the roads, while the problem remained unresolved. Other councillors also raised ward-level concerns involving encroachment, sewer lines, road construction and sanitation.
Neha Adhikari, councillor from the Polysheet area, sought removal of encroachment from the footpath near Hydil Gate. Ravi Valmiki demanded sewer lines for the uncovered sections of Kulyal Pura and Amravati Colony.
Manoj Joshi, councillor from Talli Haldwani, called for the transfer of employees who had remained assigned to the same municipal desk for a long period. Banbhulpura councillor Mohammad Gufran complained that instructions to shift scrap businesses out of residential areas had not been implemented.
Prem Belwal, councillor from the market area, requested that D.K. Park be named after former chairman Dayakishan.
Community hall proposal deferred
Councillors from Sheesh Mahal and Rajpura opposed a proposal to bring the community halls in their wards under municipal corporation control. They said private organisations had operated the halls for decades.
Councillor Rajendra Agrawal objected to the proposal as a special measure. He said the corporation should first assess the expenditure involved in taking over such properties and prepare a firm action plan.
The House agreed to place the proposal before a future meeting. The mayor directed the formation of a committee to inspect and examine the corporation’s 40 parks and 23 community buildings.
The committee will review parks and community halls operated by non-governmental organisations or firms, speak with the concerned parties and study the applicable standard operating procedure, according to the mayor.
Complaint over shop allotment
Shailendra Danu, councillor from Hiranagar, alleged irregularities in the allotment of first-floor municipal shops near Jail Road intersection. He claimed the tender process had not been made fully public and that the site was allotted before construction began.
Other councillors supported the complaint and submitted a signed representation to the mayor. Danu said the complaint was based on information obtained through the Right to Information process. The material described an allegation and did not establish a final finding.
Councillors also objected to proposed trade licence fees of ₹5,000 each for scrap dealers and carpenters, and ₹8,000 for machinery businesses. The House considered these rates too high and decided that they should be revised.
Key civic proposals approved
The board approved or took up the following major items:
- Reconstruction of old meat market Lane 12 in Banbhulpura.
- Consideration of approval for the SWM Rules 2026.
- Execution of work under the previously approved DPR for the Fresh Waste plant at current rates.
- Reconstruction of shops demolished during the widening of Shani Bazaar Road.
- Installation of a plastic-processing plant on Lake Development Authority land at Gaula Rokhad.
- A 3-month special sanitation campaign and a dedicated sanitation team for the monsoon.
- Installation of 500 poles and wires for the street-lighting system.
The meeting therefore combined immediate relief for municipal shop tenants with decisions on sanitation, public infrastructure, municipal assets and revenue-related administration.
Conclusion
The main relief is the extension of the rent-concession deadline for 1240 Haldwani shop tenants to December 31. The board also set a stricter position for future deadlines while directing action and review on roads, sanitation, municipal properties, shop allotments and civic services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who received relief from the municipal corporation?
The relief applies to 1240 municipal corporation shop tenants in Haldwani.
Q. What is the new deadline for taking the rent concession?
The deadline has been extended to December 31.
Q. Will the deadline be extended again in the future?
The board said the deadline will not be extended beyond October 31 in the future.
Q. How many proposals were approved at the meeting?
The meeting approved 17 proposals related to city development, sanitation and corporation revenue.
Q. What happened over the damaged roads issue?
Ward 56 councillor Bhagirathi Devi staged a protest in the House, saying that repeated assurances had not resulted in road repairs.
Q. What was decided about the Sheesh Mahal and Rajpura community halls?
The proposal to bring them under municipal control was deferred for consideration at a future meeting.
Q. What action was ordered for parks and community buildings?
The mayor directed a committee to inspect and examine 40 parks and 23 community buildings.
Q. What were the proposed trade licence fees that councillors opposed?
The proposed fees were ₹5,000 each for scrap dealers and carpenters, and ₹8,000 for machinery businesses. The House decided that the rates should be revised.
