Excelsior Correspondent
BILLAWAR (Kathua), Apr 11: Billawar Zila Andolan Committee held one day convention at Tehsil Billawar Ground, wherein public representatives of Panchayat bodies, senior citizens, youth and farmers from Billawar, Ramkot, Lohai-Malhar and Mahanpur participated, here today.
The convention was presided over by Durga Dass Upadhiaya, whereas the proceeding was conducted by Andolan’s convener, Hari Chand Jalmeria.
While deliberating on the agenda of accelerating the movement for creation of Billawar district, the participants expressed anguish on the ignorant attitude of the Government towards the genuine demand for creation of the district.
Speaking on the occasion, Jalmeria apprised the participants regarding discriminatory role played by different Governments in denying District status to Billawar despite fulfilling all requirements regarding area, population, distances and lack of development.
He said that present District Headquarter Kathua is 100 to 250 kilometers away from various villages of hilly tehsils. People of hilly areas have to suffer a lot to reach District headquarters. “Billawar district demand was ignored by the then Government, headed by Gulam Nabi Azad. Smaller districts based on one Tehsil were made in Kashmir and six Tehsils including Billawar, Ramkot, Lohai Malhar, Bani, Mahanpur, Basohli were denied District status,” he alleged.
Jalmeria expressed shock over the proposal of the Govt to make high security jail at “Kah Charai” land of village Dambra in Mahanpur where hundreds of trees have been cut, water bodies (Talab) has been covered and thousands more trees are to be cut.
They projected various demands along with creation of Billawar district including stop construction of a high security jail in Mahanpur, construct a tunnel under Sundrikot hill to connect Dahar road with national highway and construct another tunnel from Katli Billawar to connect Dhaggar Bani. They also demanded that the height of the proposed Ujh Dam should be reduced to avoid loss of farming land.
The convention was also addressed by Durga Dass, HS Lalotra, Kamal Kishore (BDC Chairman of Lohai Malhar block), Dharam Singh (BDC Chairman of Dogain Block), Mukhtiar Ahmed (Sarpanch Kindli Panchayat) and many others.
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