Gumma Fair will be declared block-level event: Anirudh Singh

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh announced that the historic Gumma Fair, celebrated for over a century, will soon be accorded block-level status. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the two-day fair under Gram Panchayat Gumma in the Mashobra development block in Shimla district, he said the notification process is underway and will be issued by the Deputy Commissioner’s office within two months.

Highlighting the fair’s cultural importance, Singh said it reflects the region’s deep-rooted traditions and community spirit. He also announced the construction of a new Panchayat Bhawan in Gumma at a cost of Rs 1.14 crore, which will include a library, common service centre, meeting hall and offices for local functionaries.

The minister said Rs 52.95 lakh has been spent in Gumma panchayat under various development heads over the past two years, while road projects worth Rs 6 crore are currently in progress. He added that retaining walls worth Rs 5 crore are being built in the Kasumpti Assembly constituency to repair damage caused by recent disasters.

Singh said metalling work on local roads will commence within the next 15 days and announced Rs 3 lakh for the repair of the old Panchayat Bhawan. He also assured that the proposal to introduce biology as a subject in the local government school would be taken up with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, urging residents to expedite gift deed approvals for road development.