Baddi gets subdivision status

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, August 7

Finally, Baddi has been notified as a separate subdivision as per a notification issued on August 2 by the General Administration Department of the state government. The move will help the government in facilitating nearby villages by exercising better administrative control.

SDM’s office a long-pending demand

• An office of the SDM would be opened at Baddi which will cater to 17 patwar circles of Baddi tehsil and three of Kuthar sub-tehsil.
• Opening of an SDM office has been a long-pending demand of the people. While some of them had to visit Kasauli for their revenue-related work, others had to visit Nalagarh.
• Travelling to a hilly place like Kasauli was considered arduous for some panchayats of Doon segment.
• A notification for creating this subdivision was issued by the BJP govt in October 2022 but since the model code of conduct was enforced, it could not be honoured.

This demand has been consistently raised by Doon MLA Ramkumar Chawdhary since last year. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had announced it during his visit to Baddi in April 2023 stating that it would be made functional from October last year. Its notification was delayed as rain disaster hit the state last year leaving the government with scarce resources. The announcement has, however, been honoured.

A notification for creating this subdivision was earlier issued by the former BJP government in October 2022 but since the model code of conduct was enforced, the notification could not be honoured.

An office of the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) would be opened at Baddi which will cater to 17 patwar circles of Baddi tehsil and three of Kuthar sub-tehsil.

Patwar circles of Beli, Manpura, Lodhimajra, Dhela, Bwasni, Abharani, Bhud, Thana, Sandholi, Baddi, Sauri, Taali, Bhatoli Kalan, Barotiwala, Kaindol, Nalka and Mandhala which presently lie in Nalagarh sub-division would be transferred to Baddi.

Besides, patwar circles of Patta, Ghyani and Bhaguri, currently under Kasauli sub-division and falling under Krishengarh sub-tehsil, would be transferred to Baddi subdivision.

“The notification was issued after seeking the requisite permission from the high court. The financial approval was now awaited as this will help in the creation of staff for the new office,” informed Chawdhary.

The opening of an SDM office has been a long-pending demand of the people as a section of population had to visit Kasauli for their revenue-related work while the others had to visit Nalagarh. Travelling to a hilly place like Kasauli was considered arduous for some panchayats of Doon segment.

Henceforth, those contesting the Vidhan sabha election would file his nomination at Baddi itself though until now aspirants were filing their nominations at Nalagarh.