Balh MLA submits charter of demands to CM Sukhu in Mandi

Balh MLA Inder Singh Gandhi submitted a comprehensive demand charter to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today at Nerchowk in Mandi district, urging the state government to address several long-pending developmental issues in the Balh Assembly constituency on priority. The charter includes 22 major demands related to infrastructure, healthcare, irrigation, education and public utilities, reflecting the concerns repeatedly raised by residents of the region.

One of the key demands highlighted by the MLA was the immediate initiation of construction work for the proposed airport at Balh. He also requested the government to allow the Atal Medical and Research University at Nerchowk to remain at its original location and begin its construction work at the earliest, instead of shifting it elsewhere.

Gandhi further urged the government to lay the foundation stone for the training centre building at the medical college in Nerchowk, for which budget provisions have already been made. He also stressed the need for early channelisation of Suketi Khad to protect residents of Nerchowk Municipal Council, particularly the Dadour (Kabadi Market) area, from flooding during the monsoon season.

Among other demands, the MLA sought budget allocation to complete the unfinished Chief Minister Lok Bhawan building at Leda and to start work on widening the Behna–Nalsar via Gagal road to two lanes. He also demanded funds to complete the remaining 200-metre stretch of the Tawan-Kummi road.

Gandhi emphasised the need for proper drainage infrastructure between Nerchowk and Dadour and from Ratti to Bhangrotu, proposing an estimated budget of around Rs 2 crore for the completion of pending drainage works. Several rural roads damaged during the last monsoon — including Bhiyura-Stoh-Dauhal, Dadour Kabadi Market-Dhangoo, Ratti-Dhangoo, and Chandyal-Singhan Bah-Kohal Ghatta roads — were also included in the list for urgent repairs and funding.

The demand charter also calls for the completion of incomplete bridge projects such as the Chandyal-Syahal bridge and the Paidi-Pasta bridge before the upcoming monsoon season.

In the agriculture sector, Gandhi urged the government to convert the 18-km canal of the Balh Valley Medium Irrigation Project (Right Bank) from Baggi to Malori village into a pipeline system, citing heavy leakages and damage in the existing canal built in 1994. He also demanded repair funds for the Left Bank irrigation project and the damaged Dhangoo Kuhal to support farmers.

Additionally, the MLA sought the completion of the ITI building at Gagal, restoration of the Government Girls Senior Secondary School at Bhangrotu, and funds to complete the veterinary hospital building at Bhangrotu.

He also urged the state government to reopen several de-notified institutions, including the electricity department’s divisional office at Nerchowk, police station at Rewalsar, ITI-Rewalsar, and veterinary facilities at Durgapur and Syohli.

Apart from development works, Gandhi requested the government to reorganise several large gram panchayats in the Balh constituency and create new panchayats to improve governance and public access to local administration.