XVI-DISTRICT SHOPIAN

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CHAPTER – XVI

DISTRICT SHOPIAN

16.1 Located in the south and south-west extremity of Kashmir valley, Shopian Sub-Division is lying in the close proximity of Pir Panjal mountain range. It is bounded by District Kulgam on its east and District Budgam on its north-west. It is flanked by District Pulwama in the north and the Districts of Rajouri and Poonch on its south and south-west respectively.

16.2 Shopian is situated at a distance of 51 Km from Srinagar and 20 Km from Pulwama. It has decades old road connectivity with Anatnag as well as Kulgam. In the era by gone, Shopian was located on the famous Mughal road connecting Lahore and Srinagar. This old route has suffered from neglect during the last couples of centuries, except being traversed by Bakherwals and Gujjars on the eve of their seasonal migrations. 


The currently under construction Mughal road is now expected to link District Shopian with the Districts of Poonch and Rajouri. In the event of its completion this road would be an alternate link between the two administrative divisions of the state and is likely to boost the economy of this proposed hill District besides increasing the administrative responsibilities of the District administration in the times to come.

16.3 The proposed District derives its name from the town of “SHOPIAN” about which Frederic Drew, while justifying the basis of its nomenclature, states that it is the distortion of word “SHAH-PAYAN”, i.e., Royal Stay. Shopian has been an ancient town of Kashmir, which among other factors in the past has historical importance since it is situated on the ancient imperial route commonly known as Mughal road. 


In view of its location coupled with trade and transit activities, Shopian was having one of the Wazarat Headquarters out of the six Wazarats of the time in Kashmir from 1872-1892 A.D. Consequent upon the reduction in the administrative divisions of Kashmir three Wazarats including Shopian ceased to exist.

16.4 With the gradual ascending slope from its north and north-eastern sides and Pir Panjal mountain range falling on its south and south-west periphery, Shopian has most of its areas of hilly character. On account of hilly terrain with conducive agroclimatic conditions, large areas of Shopian are covered by orchards especially apple and walnut which contribute to the socio-economic scenario of its rural community. 


Presence of nearby hilly tracts and pastures provide a lot of potential for development of its livestock population. The total area of Sub-Division is 30,742 Hects, out of which 19,692.5 Hects are of cultivable nature. The grazing lands are of the order of 2,948 Hects and 260.5 Hects are forest land. Remaining 7,841 Hects of land are the lands of other

nature.

16.5 Shopian, a populous town, is the urban center of the area. 90 % of the population lives in the rural areas. The total population of the Sub-Division is 2, 46,041 souls as per 2001 census comprising various groups of diverse nature like Gujjars, Pastoons, Dogarwalls, Minels and predominantly Kashmiris.

16.6 The Committee received various representations and had interaction with the people as well as their representatives besides holding meetings with the District administration for knowing their view point. The Committee conducted an extensive tour of the area also.

16. 7 The main suggestions put forth to the Committee along with the Committee’s recommendations are discussed as follows:-

i. Some of the quarters suggested the exclusion of villages Awneera, Derapora, Mujmarg, Chermarg and Nandimarg of Patwar Halqa Awneera from Tehsil Shopian and their transfer to Kulgam Tehsil/District. The Wazir Commission had in its report proposed for the transfer of Halqa Awneera to Tehsil Bijbehara on account of its nearness but the views of the District Administration were averse to the said proposal.

ii. The Committee had an occasion of interaction with the people on their visit to Awneera who opposed the transfer of said village from Shopian Tehsil. It was averred by them that in view of changed situation like the declaration of Shopian Tehsil as “Hill District” these areas need not be disturbed and any move in this behalf should be deemed as withdrawn. Accordingly the Committee in the context of above recommends not to disturb the present setup in respect of these villages.

iii. Separate representations from the residents of Niabats of Zanapora, Kaprain, Hermen and Keegam of Shopian were received for the upgradation of their Niabats to the Tehsil level. Similarly the people of Kellar vehemently represented for proposing Tehsil at Kellar on the ground of backwardness, inaccessibility and remoteness of their area from the District headquarters. People of Wachi also presented a memorandum for creation of Tehsil there.

The Committee feels that action on such prayers/representations involving the creation of any new unit other than those contained in the Government Order No. 947/ GAD of 13th July 2006 do not fall within the ambit of its terms of reference. However, as in respect of other areas, these representations are submitted to the Government separately.

16.8 Taking into consideration various factors like administrative conveniences, people’s aspirations, views of the district administration and public good etc, as also creation of a new District Kulgam in the neighborhood, the Committee recommends that the limits of District Shopian be made co-terminus with the limits of Sub-Division Shopian as well as Tehsil Shopian. Kulgam or Pulwama Tehsils touching its periphery cannot be annexed with it for the reasons of being the main tehsils of respective contiguous districts. 


Although an administrative unit of the standard of a district having limits co-terminus with one tehsil seems some what incongruous, but the District Shopian would comprise 231 villages with an area of 30,741.6 hectares mostly of hilly nature merits special treatment; thus named as hilly District. Instances are not wanting where even less than fifty villages are forming jurisdiction of a Tehsil. For the sake of affording more convenience to the general public, promotion of development and ensuring more effective manageability in hilly belts, need would arise to create at least one or two more tehsils within District Shopian. 


It is proposed that after the recommendations of this Committee receive the necessary favour at the level of Government, there after in the light of above, the Government may also like to consider the reorganization of this new District through some internal mechanism.

16.9 Thus in view of the above the Committee recommends that the territorial jurisdiction of the District Shopian be same as that of present Sub-Division Shopian. The details are as under :-

(i) Tehsil 01

(ii) Patwar Halqas 43

(iii) Villages 231

16.10 Details of Patwar Halqas along with villages of the proposed District Shopian are shown in Appendix XVI-1 and District Map as Appendix XVI- 2.

APPENDIX XVI – 1

DISTRICT – SHOPIAN

SUB-DIVISION/TEHSIL SHOPIAN

S.No. Name of Patwar Halqas Name of Villages

1. Shopian i. Hergam

ii. Bongam

iii. Butpora

iv. Kanipora

2. Arahama i. Arhama

ii. Lurgam

iii. Habdipora

3. Sedaw i. Sedau

ii. Reshnagri

4. Heerpora i. Heerpora

5. Zawoora Baderhama i. Zawoora Baderhama

ii. Manloo

iii. Kanipora

iv. Deegam

6. Saidapora i. Saidapora Bala

ii. Saidapora Payeen

iii. Shamsepora

iv. Amshepora

v. Chaki Shemispora

vi. Makan-e-Dagerpora

7. Meemander i. Meemandar

ii. Gagren

iii. Gund Hadoo

iv. Chowgam

v. Narvau

8. Pinjoora i. Pinjoora

ii. Aglar

9. Trenz i. Trenz

ii. Khurampora

iii. Utterpora Pehlipora

iv. Pahnoo

10. Dangerpora i. Dangerpora

ii. Sugoo Hindhama

iii. Moolu

iv. Thiyaran

v. Kungna

vi. Bag-e-Haripora

vii. Chitragam

viii. Haripora

ix. Mahand-pora

11. Turkawangam i. Turkawangam

ii. Dhobipora

iii. Aripora

iv. Nulaiposhwari

v. Maldeer

vi. Kenigam

vii. Bedigam

viii. Ladi

ix. Kunsoo

12. Kiloora Malikgund i. Kiloora Malikgund

ii. Kravoora

iii. Pragochi

iv. Loosdanev

v. Chanchwar

13. Keegam i. Keegam

ii. Cheke Hakeembaqir

iii. Nousipora

iv. Adoora Rampathri

v. Nazneenpora

14. Diyaroo i. Diyaroo

ii. Cheigund

iii. Advah

iv. Doompora

v. Checki Diyaroo

vi. Naidgund

15. Keller i. Keller

ii. Mastpora

iii. Makan-e-Dunaroo

iv. Manshwar

v. Ringwar

vi. Naserpora

16. Berthipora i. Berthipora

ii. Batamurran – Wanpora

iii. Mettipora

iv. Ranbeerpora

17. Pehlipora i. Pehlipora

ii. Chowan

iii. Jampathri

18. Narpora i. Narpora

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ii. Rakhnarpora

iii. Vishrooiv.

Theyaarn Kandi

v. Zarkon

vi. Gattipora

vii. Kathaauhalon

19. Sindushirmal i. Sindushirmal

ii. Wathoo

iii. Batapora

iv. Poterwal

v. Doombawani

vi. Ganaupora

20. Darumdore i. Darumdore

ii. Panzer

iii. Tengwani

iv. Tukroo

v. Mazhama

vi. Mughalpora

vii. Vedapora

21. Allowpora Sheikhpora i. Allowpora Shiekhpora

ii. Checki Aziz Shah

iii. Nowpora Bala

iv. Sarub

v. Peerpora

vi. Ahgam

vii. Sazon

viii. Chidren

ix. Marheng

22. Zainapora i. Zaniapora

ii. Babapora

iii. Rakh Zainapora

23. Sugan i. Sugan

ii. Dragar

iii. Heffkhudi

iv. Kashwah

v. Chidvipora

vi. Reshipora

24. Aglar Chirat i. Aglar Chirat

ii. Safanagri

25. Chitragam i. Chitragam

ii. Kawjapora

iii. Rebangundibehram

vi. Hydergund

v. Sofipora

26. Urpora i. Urpora

ii. Drawni

iii. Wadhipora

iv. Alishapora

v. Hushangpora

vi. Kadgam

vii. Dachoo

viii. Band Pahoo

ix. Chetravash

x. Hilaugund-e-Mureed

xi. Homehana

27. Heff i. Heff

ii. Shirmal

iii. Chileepora

28. Wachi i. Wachi

ii. Melhoora

29. Awneera i. Awneera

ii. Cheramerg

iii. Nadimarg

iv. Mujmarg

v. Durapora

30. Herman i. Herman

ii. Gehend

iii. Chodigam

iv. Kharawara

v. Abalwana

vi. Nildoor

vii. Landoora

31. Ganaupora Arash i. Ganaupora Arash

ii. Lawahind

iii. Shuratpora

iv. Palpora

v. Deshipora

32. Deerikalipora i. Deerikalipora

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ii. Gund-e-Darvesh

iii. Aloora

iv. Nerwani

v. Amberbugh

vi. Badimarg

33. Chakoora i. Chakoora

ii. Hajipora

iii. Kanihama

iv. Chek-e-Sidiq Khan

v. Hardu Nagisharan

vii. Kumdalan

34. Hardu Handev i. Hardu-Handev

ii. Wachau Hallan

iii. Sangren

iv. Wuyan

v. Chotipora

vi. Tulren

vii. Barbugh

viii. Gund-i-Wuyan

ix. Manihal

x. Batpora Palpora

35. Nadigam i. Nadigam

ii. Cuttpora

iii. Manzimpora

iv. Dugapora

v. Tachloo

vi. Nowpora

vii. Baskuchan

viii. Zainabatoo

ix. Melibugh

36. Kapren i. Kapren

ii. Rey

iii. Heerpora Bategund

iv. Pandoshan

v. Rekhpora Nayakpora

37. Vehil Chatevation i. Vehil Chatevation

ii. Nowgam

iii. Chatripora

iv. Minipora

v. Choudhrigund

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38. Ramnagri i. Ramnagri

39. Kanji Uller i. Kanji Uller

ii. Pudsoo

iii. Mandojen

iv. Feeripora

v. Adijan

vi. Poshhama

vii. Gadipora

40. Partabpora i. Partabpora

ii. Zaipora Dharmamarath

iii. Braripora

iv. Rakhhama

v. Mantraybugh

vi. Tengapora

vii. Reenipora-Khasipora

viii. Tekipora

ix. Buttpora Nilladang

41. Bemnipora i. Bemnipora

ii. Avend

iii. Rawalpora

iv. Hanjipora

42. Dangam i. Dangam

ii. Wangam

iii. Sudhershanpora

iv. Gadapora

v. Ratnipora

vi. Halaupora

43. Chek-e-Cholend i. Chek-e-Cholend

ii. Muradpora

iii. Hindsilapora

iv. Padderpora

v. Vingipora

vi. Reshipora

vii. Chekoo

Total: Number of Villages – 231

APPENDIX XVI – 2

MAP SHOWING THE BOUNDARIES OF DISTRICT SHOPIAN