Nerchowk Municipal Council chief Nervada Abhilashi conveys dissatisfaction to Cong leadership
Munish Sood
MANDI:
A simmering dispute over construction activity by DAV School in the Kansa Khud area of Balh in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh has evolved into a wider administrative and political crisis, exposing fault lines between local residents, elected representatives and the district administration — and now threatening to spill over into the Congress’ organisational stability in the region.
The controversy, centred on alleged obstruction to the natural flow of the khad and the interpretation of land allotment near the Kansa bridge, has generated sustained public anger and repeated interventions by political and social groups. Despite multiple meetings and assurances, the absence of a decisive and widely accepted resolution has deepened mistrust on the ground.
Administration scrambles for consensus
In an effort to defuse tensions, a joint meeting was convened on Sunday at the Balh SDM office and was chaired by SDM Smritika Negi, with participation from all stakeholders, including local MLA Inder Gandhi, senior police and revenue officials, DAV management representatives, farmer leaders and social organisations.
Following deliberations, the administration announced a temporary halt to construction activities and initiated a technical and revenue-level review.
Key decisions included inspection of the site by a revenue department team, identification of alternative adjoining land to protect the natural flow of Kansa Khad, review of lease documents for compliance with government policy and suspension of all construction activity for 12 days pending reports and recommendations.
Attempting to resolve matter through dialogue, says SDM
Speaking on the issue, Balh SDM Smritika Negi said the administration was attempting to resolve the matter through dialogue while remaining bound by legal directives. “Efforts are being made to resolve the issue by sitting together with all parties concerned,” the SDM said.
She explained that the revenue department has around one-and-a-half bighas of vacant land adjoining the school premises and after assessing all aspects, a practical solution has been proposed.
“If the land allotted to the school is approaching the Kansa bridge pillar, construction is proposed to be stopped 46 feet short of the pillar, and in lieu of that portion, 17 biswa of vacant revenue land would be allotted to the school,” she said. However, the SDM acknowledged serious hurdles in implementing any settlement.
“At present, people are not willing to listen to any proposed solution. Moreover, the school is operating under Himachal Pradesh High Court orders, which are binding. Either those orders have to be followed or the matter has to be taken to the Supreme Court, something no party is currently prepared to do,” she added.
Political discomfort begins to surface
As the administrative deadlock persists, political discomfort has begun to surface within the ruling Congress. Several party-backed representatives have privately expressed frustration over what they perceive as limited responsiveness from the administration, despite repeated objections and written submissions.
Among them is Nerchowk Municipal Council president Nervada Abhilashi, who has reportedly conveyed strong dissatisfaction to senior party leaders, including former minister Prakash Chaudhary. She has alleged that concerns raised in public interest have not translated into action on the ground, placing elected representatives in a difficult position before their supporters.
According to sources, the prolonged impasse has triggered serious internal unease, with Abhilashi even indicating that her continuation in the party depends on whether the issue is resolved through timely political and administrative intervention.
Abhilashi, a two-time panchayat pradhan and an influential local leader, commands a strong grassroots presence in the area. Her husband Dr RK Abhilashi, a former panchayat vice-pradhan, is also considered socially and politically influential.
Political observers caution that continued inaction could have repercussions beyond the immediate dispute, potentially impacting the Congress’ prospects in urban local body elections as well as the next Assembly polls in the Balh region.
Issue reaches Chief Minister’s court
The gravity of the dispute has prompted intervention at the highest level. Former minister Prakash Chaudhary and APMC chairman Sanjeev Guleria recently met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in Shimla, briefing him on the evolving situation.
The Chief Minister reportedly assured them that public interest would remain paramount and directed the administration to submit a factual report at the earliest.
For now, while construction remains halted and official reviews are underway, the DAV land dispute continues to test the administration’s ability to balance legal obligations with public sentiment — even as political pressures within the ruling party quietly intensify.
