Buddhal’s naib tehsildar works from Koteranka
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Buddhal (Rajouri), January 20
As Chief Minister Omar Abdullah seeks to introduce e-governance in the state, this niabat (lowest administrative wing in the state) remains “without” a naib tehsildar for the past six years. Though the state government has posted a naib tehsildar for this niabat, he doesn't sit here and instead operate from the tehsil office in Koteranka.

Sources in the local tehsil office said the naib tehsildar had an office here but despite that he occasionally came to this niabat (once in a fortnight) for addressing the problems of the people.

They said the tehsildar of Koteranka had attached the naib tehsildar Buddhal with his office and had stationed him there.

Residents of the Buddhal area (with a population of about 30,000) said since the naib tehsildar did not sit here they had to rush to Koteranka, 15 km from here, for even petty works. They added since majority of the people were poor they could not afford to travel to Koteranka for every minor work.

“For the past six years, we have been urging the deputy commissioner and tehsildar of Koteranka to station naib tehsildar here but they don't seem to listen. We have to travel to Koteranka for minor works like for getting ration cards and income certificates. Besides, there are other administrative affairs which need to be addressed by the naib tehsildar, but since he doesn't sit here we all are facing problems", said a resident and senior National Conference leader, Abdul Rehmaan Bhatt.

“Though the naib tehsildar come here once in a month, it is insufficient time for solving the problems of people of this remote and backward area. Now that Omar sahib has taken over as the Chief Minister, we hope that the naib tehsildar will be stationed here".

Even as senior officers in the district administration and tehsil office in Koteranka declined to comment on the issue, a junior-level officer in the district administration said the post of naib tehsildar was lying vacant in Buddhal niabat for quite some time. But, niab tehsildar of Kandi had been given the additional charge of Buddhal, who visited Buddhal once in a week, he added.