Dharamshala better place to live than Shimla

PARAMETERS ON WHICH D’SHALA SCORED OVER SHIMLA

DHARAMSHALA: Nestled in foothills of mighty Dhauladhar mountains and amid sprawling tea gardens, ‘Divine Dharamshala’ — as the small hilltown is christened — is a better place to live than the state’s capital Shimla.

The abode of Tibetan spiritual leader, Dharamshala is ranked 56th in the “Ease of Living Index”, list of which released by Union ministry of housing affairs last week.

SHIMLA SITS AT 92ND PLACE

Among 111 cities. Shimla and Dharmashala were only cities of HP considered for the survey.

The index is based on a comprehensive report which assesses the quality of life in cities on the four broad parameters. Governance

Education

Health

Economy and employment

A total of 78 indicators — 56 core and 22 supporting ones — are covered under the index. These have been grouped under 15 thematic categories, which in turn are part of the four pillars of urban development, namely institutional, social, economic and physical.

The physical pillar was given the highest weightage at 45, while institutional and social carried 25 points each. Remaining points on the scale of 100 belonged to the economy pillar.

Tagged a ‘Smart City’ in Assured water supply Waste water management Reduced pollution

Public open spaces.

2016, Dharmshala managed to beat Shimla in all the four broad parameters by scoring overall 34.57 points against the latter’s 27.32.

Of 15 categories, Dharamshala, dubbed as winter capital of Himachal, scored better in nine categories including, governance, education, health, economy and employment, public open spaces, mixed land use and compactness, transportation and mobility, assured water supply, waste water management and reduced pollution.

Shimla, meanwhile, has better score in six categories. However, in categories of public open spaces, mixed land use and compactness, state capital has got zero points.

Dharamshala was set up by the British in 1848 and is one of the oldest municipalities in the country.

The town houses the second complex of Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha and was upgraded from a municipal council to corporation in 2017.

Former urban development minister and Congress leader Sudhir Sharma, who was instrumental in getting the town the ‘Smart City’ tag and an MC status, said open spaces, easy mobility and perennial water streams made it a better place than Shimla. He credited the previous Congress government for the feat Dharamshala town has achieved.