11 years on, Khari tehsil sans administrative setup

Banihal, Nov 3: More than a decade after Khari-Mahoo-Mangit was granted tehsil status under the 2014 administrative reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir, the promise of bringing governance closer to the people remains largely unfulfilled.

Eleven years later, far flung Khari tehsil in Ramban district continues to function with makeshift arrangements, staff shortage, and almost no permanent infrastructure.

The office of the Tehsildar and Executive Magistrate Khari still operates from the PWD dak bungalow, a temporary setup that has become a symbol of administrative neglect. The only government building in the area, the Block Development Office (BDO), is located in a nearly inaccessible spot, with no proper approach road or path.

Residents of Khari said that the lack of government offices forces them to depend on Banihal for even the simplest official work.

“For simple official work, we still have to travel to Banihal,” said Abdul Hameed, a local resident. “We got tehsil status on paper, not on the ground.”

The office of Naib Tehsildar Niabat Mangit also operates from a rented building, costing lakhs annually to the exchequer.

Master Ali Mohammad, a resident of Kudji Mangit, said the Naib Tehsildar rarely took regular charge until recently, when the office was shifted near the Panchayat Ghar and began functioning occasionally.

Healthcare and Water Supply in Distress

Sajjad Ahmad Khanday a local journalist of Khari said that the area spread across a vast mountainous area bordering Kulgam district, the Primary Health Centre in Khari remains ill-equipped lacking a gynaecologist, surgeon, paediatrician, dental surgeon and basic diagnostic facilities such as X-ray and ultrasound.

Patients, including expectant mothers, are often referred to Banihal or GMC Anantnag for treatment. He said an old model ambulance of PHC Khari is also in bad condition. He said for the people of Khari, patience has become a way of life.

“Our voices echo through the mountains but reach no one in power,” said Sajjad Khanday. “Every election brings new promises, but our tehsil office is still running from a dak bungalow.” he added.

Ecological Damage

Residents of Aarpinchla, Khari have accused railway construction companies of damaging the fragile ecology of Khari during the construction of several tunnels, including the 13 kilometer-long India’s longest railway tunnel between Khari and Sumber. They alleged that the railway construction companies destroyed the Khari-Nachilana link road and several paths and local water springs.

“After finishing their work, the companies left the area in ruins,” said an elderly villager. “Every rainy season, the Nachilana–Khari road is washed away at Hirnihal and near railway tunnel in Siran Khari, cutting off dozens of villages of Khari tehsil including Mundakhbass, Trigam, Kumla, Ahama, Buzla, Kawna, Trana, Bawa, Aarmarg, Akhran, Mahoo and Mangit.”

MLA Sajjad Shaheen Promises Infrastructure Push

MLA Banihal Sajjad Shaheen said efforts were underway to develop Khari into a fully functional administrative unit.

“Around 200 kanals of land at Moominabad Khari have been identified for the construction of government offices,” MLA Banihal-Gool assembly constituency Sajjad Shaheen told Greater Kashmir.

He said a proposal worth Rs 50 lakh has been submitted under the UT Capex Budget for protection work at the site, while additional projects worth Rs 1.60 Cr have been proposed for a new hospital building, sports ground, and community hall.

“Providing basic amenities to the people of Khari is our duty,” Sajjad Shaheen said. “We are committed to improving infrastructure, and I am hopeful that funds will soon be sanctioned so work can begin after the tendering process.”

Tehsildar Harveer Singh also confirmed that land has been identified for multiple departmental offices near BDO office.

“We plan to establish offices for the Tehsildar, Police Station, Fire Service, and Animal Husbandry Department,” Harveer Singh said. “We are also working to open PMGSY, PWD, and PHE offices in Khari so that the residents don’t have to depend on Banihal.” He said the Rural development department (RDD) has been asked to construct a road to the proposed site.