Resentment as PWD division for Bhatiyat not notified

Our Correspondent

NURPUR, MAY 7

Resentment prevails among the residents of neighbouring Bhatiyat sub division in Chamba district as the divisional office of the Public Works Department (PWD) was yet to be notified even after six months of its announcement made by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur in a public meeting on November 11 last. A number of Cabinet meetings have been convened by the state government but its nod could not be given so far.

The residents were expecting its approval in the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday but they were disappointed when the state government gave approval for creating new circle office of the Jal Shakti Department (JSD) at Dharampur in Mandi district and division of the same department at Thanakalan in Kutlehar assembly constituency in Una district but ignored Bhatiyat sub division.

At present, the divisional office of the PWD and the JSD were functioning from Dalhousie sub division, causing hardships to the locals. The Bhatiyat sub division had come into existence in 1998 and people of this sub division have to travel around 100 kilometer to visit Dalhousie for PWD related works.

Ram Singh Chambiyal, president of Bhatiyat Block Congress Committee, alleged that the Jai Ram Thakur government had befooled the people of Bhatiyat sub division by making this hollow announcement six months ago.

He accused the government of discriminating against this assembly constituency politically as well as on development issues. Surinder Charak, vice president Chuwari nagar panchayat, said the state government had left the constituency in lurch with a motive to settle the old political score.

Abhinay Sondhi, president of Social Welfare Committee an NGO, Chuwari, said the people of Bhatiyat had extended a big mandate to the BJP in the Assembly as well as the last Lok Sabha elections. Now Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur should honour his own announcement by opening of divisional office of the PWD at Chuwari the sub divisional headquarters of Bhatiyat sub division.

Vikram Jaryal, local MLA, was not available for comments.