STATE TIMES NEWS
BILLAWAR: In three days long campaign, the Billawar Zila Andolan held three conventions at three Tehsil Headquarters at Ramkot, Billawar and Macchedi. A team of the leaders of the Andolan addressed the conventions. The conventions resolved impressing upon the Govt. to immediately create Billawar District.
Convener of the Adolan Hari Chand Jalmeria Advocate while addressing the conventions said that Billawar has very genuine right and claim for District. Billawar, Basohli and Bani comprise most of the area of Kathua district which is more than 250 kms long and about 100 kms wide. Headquarter of Kathua district is located at south-western corned touching Punjab and Pakistan. Hilly areas are not developed and lack road communication. To reach District Headquarters, people have to waste 2/3 days. The hilly areas of Macchedi, Kindli, Badnota, Lohai-Malhar, Marhoon, Sadrota, Dhaggar, Bani, Lohang, Fatehpur Bhandar, Sachar, Dhar Mahanpur, Jouran are cold and have great tourism potential but mostly lack road communication and other facilities. These areas need focused attention for which District Headquarters at Billawar is necessary which falls in center of the area.
Ignoring the right of hilly areas of district , the Sheikh Abdullah Govt. added three more districts in the Valley in the year 1978. Responding to agitation in Jammu, he appointed Wazir Commission which recommended three districts for Samba, Kishtwar and Reasi and one for Bandipora in 1982. This report was never implemented. Ghulam Nabi Azad Govt., without following any criteria or recommendations, made four more districts in Kashmir and four in Jammu province. Billawar, Basohli and Bani area was ignored throughout.
The political parties, during elections promise district at Billawar but forget afterwards. Same thing has happened with the present dispensation of BJP-PDP.
Jalmeria called upon people to come out in a big way to join the movement launched by the Billawar Zila Andolan for creation of Billawar District.
Committees were formed for the Tehsils of Ramkot, Billawar and Macchedi to spearhead the movement which shall culminate in a massive rally.
Besides by Jalmeria, the convention at Ramkot was addressed by Bansi Lal Gupta, Bishan Dass Sharma, OP Khajuria, Sarvanad Gupta, Ajay Kumar, Uttam Chand, Taramani and Raj Mohinder. At Billawar the prominent speakers were Bishan Dass, Master Raghunath Singh, Sunil Singh, Bhagwan Singh, Khazan Chand and Arvind Singh. At Macchedi prominent speakers included Khushi Ram Sarpanch, Bansi Lal, Sudesh Kumar, Ajit Singh, Mushtaq Ahmed and Gian Chand.
At Macchedi, people strongly resented not sitting of Tehsildar at Macchedi despite creation of Tehsil Macchedi. They said that Tehsildar Macchedi sits at Billawar. They also resented bad condition of Billawar-Macchedi Road.
the three days campaign, a strong appeal was made to the Chief Minister to immediately create Billawar District.
