Kariyan locals in Pangi join chorus against delimitation

Following recent protests from Pangi residents, locals and Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) representatives from Kariyan have now raised strong objections to the recent delimitation of their zila parishad ward. A delegation comprising zila parishad chairperson Neelam Kumari, Kariyan zila parishad ward member Manoj Kumar Manu, Panchayat Samiti members, local Panchayat Pradhans and Panchayat members submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, calling the new delimitation “unjust” and demanding immediate correction.

According to the delegation, the delimitation process has overlooked established norms and mapping protocols. They stated that the previous boundaries were appropriate in terms of geography, assembly constituency alignment and population distribution. However, the new delimitation has arbitrarily redrawn boundaries, shifting several panchayats and causing widespread confusion and concern among the public.

The representatives alleged that eastern panchayats have been moved westward and northern ones southward, disrupting the natural and functional administrative grouping. Affected panchayats such as Rajera, Velly, Kuthed, Gagla and Janghi were originally part of the Chamba Assembly constituency and Mehla development block. In contrast, the newly added panchayats — Mangla, Kupahda, Rathyiar Basodhan, Baktpur, Bhadiyan and Tapoon — are geographically distant and lie in entirely different directions, complicating governance and local coordination.

The delegation emphasised that the previous configuration was logical and balanced in terms of both direction and population. Citing the 2011 Census, they pointed out that other wards like Holi (17,896) and Bharmour (21,212) fall below the 25,000-population benchmark required for Zila Parishad wards. Meanwhile, two wards in the Tissa block — Sanwal (38,146) and Chanju (37,601) — already combine for over 75,000 people, likely surpassing 100,000 based on current estimates. They argued that instead of altering Kariyan’s boundaries, a new ward should have been created in Tissa.

The delegation urged the DC to re-examine the delimitation, taking into account both demographic data and geographic coherence. “The reorganisation has created unnecessary complications and violates the spirit of Panchayati Raj,” a representative stated.

As public discontent grows, the issue is expected to gain further momentum, with mounting pressure for a fair and rational restructuring of the Kariyan ward boundaries.