Exclude Dhaundhi, Behna & Chalah panchayats from Mandi MC: Residents

A delegation, led by former minister Prakash Chaudhary, met Mandi DC and submitted a formal memorandum demanding the exclusion of Dhaundhi, Behna and Chalah panchayats from the jurisdiction of the Mandi MC. The demand was made citing the area’s overwhelming rural character, its geographical distance from the city centre and the hardships faced by residents in accessing municipal services.

As per the memorandum, Ward No. 15 of the Mandi Municipal Corporation includes five revenue areas — Ota, Gutkar Behna, Chalah, Bagla and Daundhi — of which Dhaundhi is the farthest and most remote, located approximately 11 km from the municipal headquarters. The delegation emphasised that Dhaundhi is a 100 per cent agrarian region, with over 95 per cent of its population dependent on agriculture for livelihood and lacks the urban characteristics typically associated with municipal governance.

The delegation highlighted that Dhaundhi was included in the MC during a previous government’s tenure, allegedly on the basis of population figures from the last census, with the assurance that the area would be re-evaluated and potentially excluded after the next census. However, despite nearly four years after the formation of the MC, no new census has taken place, nor has any action taken to exclude Dhaundhi.

The delegation appealed to the DC to respect the sentiments and practical concerns of the residents of these areas. The members requested that the area be excluded from the MC limits and instead merged with nearby gram panchayats such as Nagchala or Badsu.