Jammu Tawi: A delegation from the Billawar Zila Andolan, led by Convenor Hari Chand Jalmeria, Advocate, met Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Member of Parliament and President of the National Conference, at his Jammu residence today. During the meeting, Jalmeria presented a memorandum outlining the urgent demand for the creation of Billawar District, emphasizing the area’s lack of development despite meeting all the necessary criteria.
Jalmeria explained that Billawar, located far from the Kathua district headquarters, suffers from inadequate connectivity and infrastructure. The district headquarters in Kathua is located 100-250 kilometers away from the six hilly tehsils of Billawar, Lohai-Malhar, Bani, Ramkote, Basohli, and Mahanpur. Despite the area’s significant tourism potential, the lack of proper roads and basic facilities further hampers its growth.
He noted that Billawar’s demand for district status had been consistently ignored by successive governments, including in 1978 under Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and later during Gulam Nabi Azad’s tenure. Billawar was bypassed despite the creation of several smaller districts, some based on just one tehsil.
Jalmeria urged Dr. Abdullah to take action within his party and in the Lok Sabha to persuade both the State and Central Governments to create Billawar District, with its headquarters in Billawar itself.
The delegation also expressed strong opposition to the forced construction of a jail in Dambra and instead proposed an Agriculture and Horticulture Research Center. Additionally, they reiterated the need for a tunnel under Sundrikot to improve connectivity between Billawar and the National Highway near Kathua.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah expressed agreement with the delegation’s genuine demands and assured them that he would take the matter up at the appropriate levels.
