DAYA SAGAR
Union Minister and senior BJP leader Dr Jitendra Singh had on 7th April 2024 while addressing a public meeting in Billawar ( District Kathua , J&K) opined that Congress ‘deliberately’ denied district status to Billawar where as some areas with lesser geographical spread and smaller population were given district status. No doubt the reorganization of district administrative units had remained under question mark right since 1979 when so irrationally the 3 districts ( Anantnag, Srinagar, Baramulla ) were sprit ( Sh. Sheikh Mohd Abdullah lead NC Government (SRO 306 of 6/6/1979) into 6 districts ( Anantnag, Pulwama, Srinagar, Badgam, Baramulla, Kupwara ) where as the then already existing 6 districts ( Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Rajouri, Poonch) which had much larger geographical spread / larger populated area/ bad terrain & connectivity were not split further. Not only that Js. Wazir Commission ( 1981) had in 1984 recommended that 3 more districts be carved out in Jammu Division taking the number from 6 to 9 and districts in Valley could be increased from 6 to 7. The Wazir commission recommendations were not implemented but instead it was in 2007 that the then PDP- Congress Government in J&K ( vide SRO 185 of 22 May 2007 lead by Sh. Ghulam Nabi Azad) so irrationally dismantling even the recommendations that Wazir Commission had made after 3 yr study in 1984 so abruptly created 4 more districts in Valley ( as against only 1 recommended by Wazir Commission i.e 300 % more ) making total 10 districts in Valley and in Jammu division also created only 4 more districts ( as against 3 already recommended by Wazir commission i.e just 33 % more ) making total as only 10 in Jammu Division also. No doubt where and how new district could be carved out in Jammu Division to the irrational reorganizations done in 1979 (SRO 306 of 6/6/1979 ) & 2007 (SRO 185 of 22 May 2007) could be decided after intimate study and may be Billawar too qualifies for HQ of new district ( when created) as opined by Dr. Jitendra Singh. Though late, it can be still hoped that he may be working for getting the corrections applied on priority for carving out more districts out of existing districts of Rajouri, Kathua, Udhampur, Doda ( before 2007). It is not out of place to quote here that in 2007 Rajouri District was spread over 2630 sq km (Digest of statistics 2007-2008 mentions it as 2727 Sq. km ) & already had 7 Tehsils where as a new district like Shopian comprising of almost one tehsil and spread over an area of nearly 400 sq km ( 312 sq km as per 2011 Census / Digest of statistics 2007-2008 says 313 Sq. km where as District website on 16 Jan 2024 mentioned it as 612.87 sq.km). It was in 2017 /18 the people of Nowshera, Sunderbani, Kalakote held demonstrations /candle marches demanding atleast one more new District Administrative Unit for them by reorganizing the existing revenue district of Rajouri and adjoining areas. But the demands even then did not receive adequate attention and support from the political parties for getting a very very genuine demand executed. Some reorganization was done at district levels in 2014 without increasing districts Let Dr. Jitendra Singh take the requirements further for getting a high power Reorganisation Commission (with private members also) appointed for examining the demands & recasting some more district administrative units in UT of J&K as demanded by the people of the backward areas like that of Bani/Basohli/ Billawar, Nowshera/ Sunderbani/ Kalakot, Akhnoor ; Rajouri, Buddal/Mendar; Mohore/Gool, Ramnagar; Bhaderwah / Thathri/ Gandoh, Gulabgarh/Paddar, Hiranagar, R.S.Pura; Ramban, Kargil , Zanskar, Leh , Nubra, Changthang , Sha, Dhahan, Doda, Kishtwar and like
To be continued…
(The writer is Sr Journalist and social activist & analyst J&K affairs)