Munish Sood
Mandi
As Sarkaghat gears up to host Himachal Pradesh’s state-level Independence Day celebrations, the town finds itself at the center of a growing civic debate. While many residents view the event as a moment of pride, others argue that the preparations are exposing long-standing flaws in local planning and infrastructure.
A Park That Took Away Parking
Years ago, a political faction championed the construction of a park in the heart of Sarkaghat’s main market, replacing a vital parking area. Marketed as a beautification effort, the park now lies neglected — with broken flowerpots, a defunct fountain, and minimal upkeep. Traders claim their business has dropped by nearly 50% due to the lack of parking.
Prashant Singh, a local resident known for raising public concerns, blames the silence of citizens at the time. “This is what happens when development lacks vision,” he said.
Playground at Risk Amid Parade Preparations
This year, a different political faction is overseeing preparations for the Independence Day parade on the town’s only school playground — a space regularly used for football, hockey, and other sports. To ready the ground for the ceremony, gravel is being laid across the field, prompting fears of permanent damage.
“Even someone with no sports background can tell that once gravel is laid, the field will never be fit for play again,” Singh warned.
Political Hypocrisy and Public Frustration
Locals accuse both major political parties of hypocrisy — quick to criticize the other’s decisions while ignoring similar missteps by their own leaders. “If people had guided their leaders at the right time, we wouldn’t have a useless park in the market or a playground at risk today,” Singh added.
Social Media Reactions: Pride vs. Protest
The debate has spilled onto social media, with residents voicing sharply divided opinions:
- Ashwini Guleria: “Talk after the ground work is completed. For 15 years, Sarkaghat has been neglected. Now when something is happening, people are objecting.”
- Munish Kumar: “Prashant Singh has not targeted any one party. He is simply highlighting the truth. Ignoring the main issue to defend a party is blind loyalty.”
- Ashwini Bhardwaj: “The ground was in bad shape even before the gravel. The whole town is in decline, whether it’s the roads or any department.”
- Vipin Thakur: “We have the honor of hosting Independence Day this year. Officials have inspected everything. If it rains and the ground turns muddy, people would still complain.”
- Shashi Guleria: “The park is fine, the ground will also turn out fine. Don’t politicize everything. Where were people when the Kendriya Vidyalaya was shifted out of Sarkaghat?”
While officials emphasize the honor of hosting the state’s Independence Day, critics argue that in the rush to impress, Sarkaghat may be compromising its limited civic infrastructure. Whether August 15, 2025, is remembered as a day of national pride or a costly civic misstep remains to be seen.
