Relocation of Nagrota Surian BDO Office: Himachal Governor ‘assures action’ as protest intensifies

The controversy surrounding the relocation of the over five-decade-old Block Development Office (BDO) from Nagrota Surian to Jawali — the home constituency of Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar — has now reached the Governor of Himachal Pradesh. During his visit to Dharamsala, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla was handed a memorandum by BJP leader Sanjay Guleria, who contested the last Assembly election from Jawali, on behalf of the Save Nagrota Surian Development Block Sangharsh Samiti and local mahila mandals.

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The memorandum appealed to the Governor to intervene and revoke the state government’s notification, calling it politically motivated and detrimental to the interests of residents of Nagrota Surian. Petitioners highlighted that the development block was established 53 years ago, following the submergence of Mangwal village due to the construction of the Pong Dam in 1972.

Guleria said the Governor gave a patient hearing and assured the delegation that he would take up the matter with the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, the indefinite relay fast by the Sangharsh Samiti, with support from residents of several affected gram panchayats, entered its 22nd day on Thursday. Members of Katholi’s mahila mandal — including Rano Devi, Monika, Saroj, Santosh, Rekha, Veena, and Sudesh Kumari — staged a four-hour symbolic dharna at the BDO premises.

Interestingly, even local Congress leaders have opposed the relocation move. They have urged Minister Chander Kumar to reconsider the decision in the broader public interest. The leaders warned that such an unpopular step could have electoral repercussions for the ruling party in the upcoming panchayati raj and nagar panchayat elections scheduled for later this year.