V-DISTRICT KISHTWAR

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CHAPTER – V

DISTRICT KISHTWAR

5.1 Pursuant to Government order referred to in Chapter I Kishtwar has been declared as one of the new Districts, while Atholi (Paddar) which falls in Kishtwar Sub-Division has been declared as new Tehsil. It may be pertinent to mention that vide Govt. Order No. Rev(5)203 of 2005, dated 09-08-2005 three new Tehsils namely Chhatroo, Marwah and Paddar were created, and in fact these three Tehsils have started functioning independently after territorial Tehsildars were posted there. But, vide recent Govt. Order the Committee has been asked to demarcate boundaries among others in respect of Tehsil Atholi (Paddar) as well. Thus, the new District Kishtwar would comprise four Tehsils including Kishtwar and the Committee is to demarcate boundaries of the new District Kishtwar and Tehsil Atholi (Paddar).

5.2 Kishtwar Sub-Division is bounded by Zanskar on the North, Himachal Pardesh on the East, Doda and Bhaderwah on the South, Anantnag and Banihal on the West.

5.3 Kishtwar in the past used to be an independent hill principality and was merged with the State of Jammu and Kashmir in1821, A.D. With the passage of time Kishtwar became a Tehsil of District Udhampur and remained its part till 1948, when it became part of newly created District Doda in the wake of first re-organization of the state during the post-independence period.

5.4 Kishtwar branches off in Marwa-Wadwan valley, Paddar valley, Chhatroo valley and is flanked by lofty Himalayas from all sides. The monsoon hardly reaches this part of the State which makes it a drought prone area and insufficient in food grains in particular the Marwah-Wardwan area which remains cut off for 5-6 months in a year due to snowfall in winter. In order to avoid any starvation death sufficient stocks of food grains and other essential commodities are stored well in advance in these areas so that the public may not suffer on this account.

5.5 Kishtwar is having lot of potential for generation of Hydro Electric Power. One of the major power projects is Dul-Hasti which is at the commissioning stage. With the commissioning of this project the economy of the area is sure to boost up and the pace of development of Kishtwar is sure to accelerate in the coming days. The area popularly known as ‘Land of Sapphire and Saffron’ is also very rich in forest products. The richest forests in Jammu and Kashmir are found on the high mountains and hills of Kishtwar.

5.6 Kishtwar is linked with other parts of the state by an all weather road, National Highway 1-B, which remains open throughout the year. Kishtwar is also connected with Kashmir Valley by Chhatroo-Synthan road, which is being upgraded into National Highway. With the up gradation of this road it will become an alternate route for the tourists visiting Kashmir Valley.

5.7 For purposes of ascertaining views of the District Administration and people’s representatives in respect of fixing geographical boundaries of new District Kishtwar, the Demarcation Committee visited various areas of the Sub-Division. A large number of representations were presented to the committee, besides verbal suggestions made by the sitting and Ex-MLAs/MLCs who met the Committee, during its visit to Kishtwar and Doda. 


Although there were some demands for additions/deletions of certain areas in the existing boundaries of the Sub-Division (now District) Kishtwar, yet on the whole the consensus opinion was that existing boundaries of Kishtwar Sub-Division be made boundaries of new District Kishtwar, but for a forceful demand projected by the people of Bunjwa for exclusion of their area from Tehsil Kishtwar and its inclusion in Tehsil Thathri keeping in view the geographical location and connectivity of the area. 


No doubt, there were some dissenting views also, but the Committee during its visit had observed that in view of the following considerations, there is a strong case for exclusion of Patwar Halqa Patnazi comprising five villages namely Patnazi, Kither, Binoon, Nali and Jirwar with a population of 6715 souls, and Patwar Halqa Jawalapur consisting of six villages namely Jawalapur, Kewa, Mori, Balagran, Chamoti and Tipri with a population of 7257 from Kishtwar and their inclusion in Tehsil Thathri:-

i. The public of the Bunjwa area is not directly connected even with a fair weather road and people have to travel on foot to reach Thathri-Gandoh road at a point known as Donadi. As such, in order to reach Kishtwar, Doda or Badherwah they have to first reach Thathri and then take a vehicle for onward journey to any of these places.

ii. While Tehsil headquarter Thathri is located at a distance of 9 kms from Donadi, Kishtwar and Doda are around 40 to 45 kms away.

iii. Although these villages presently form part of Tehsil Kishtwar but for purposes of community development these villages are already part of C.D. Block Thathri.

iv. The District Development Commissioner, Doda has also strongly recommended merger of Bunjwa area with Thathri Tehsil keeping in view the administrative convenience, majority public demand, proximity of the area with Tehsil headquarter Thathri.

5.8 Thus, the new District Kishtwar would comprise four Tehsils namely Kishtwar (except two Patwar Halqas namely Patnazi and Jawalapur), with sixteen Patwar Halqas having seventy three villages, Tehsil Marwah with eleven Patwar Halqas having twenty seven villages, Tehsil Chhatroo with seven Patwar Halqas having thirteen villages and new Tehsil Atholi (Paddar) with five Patwar Halqas having thirty two villages. 


With this the total number of Patwar Halqas and villages in the new District comes to thirty nine & one hundred forty five respectively. Details of the Patwar Halqas and villages forming part of District Kishtwar are indicated in Appendix V-1, the map showing the boundaries, thereof is marked as Appendix V-2.

TEHSIL ATHOLI (PADDAR)

5.9 Paddar Valley is the fartherest corner of District Kishtwar on south-eastern side touching its borders with Himachal Pradesh, Zanskar Valley of Ladakh and Marwah- Wadwan Valley. Paddar is known for sapphire deposits and other forest products like Zeera and Guchhi. Although vast areas of the Valley are under forest cover yet few villages are also known for producing green/dry vegetables/pulses such as Peas and Rajmash. Paddar Valley comprises five Patwar Halqas and thirty two villages.

5.10 In pursuance of Cabinet decision No: 153/7 dated 06-07-2006, the Committee has been asked to demarcate geographical boundaries of newly created Administrative Units including Tehsil Atholi. As such with a view to ascertain the views of all concerned, Committee paid a visit to the area when the District Development Commission Doda also accompanied. 


Public and people’s representatives were unanimous in their demand that the boundaries of the existing Niabat as well as C.D. Block Paddar be made boundaries of new Tehsil Atholi as there is no possibility of exclusion/inclusion of any areas in view of geographical constraints. District Development Commissioner, Doda was also of the same view. Accordingly, the Committee proposes that new Tehsil Atholi be comprised of five Patwar Halqas namely Atholi, Gulabgarh, Massu, Sohal and Ishtiari with thirty two villages as is the jurisdiction of the existing Niabat as well as C.D. Block Paddar making new Tehsil limits coterminus with Niabat as well as C.D. Block. 


The details of Patwar Halqas and villages forming part of new Tehsil Atholi (Paddar) are indicated in Appendix V-3 and the map showing boundaries of Tehsil is marked as Appendix V-4.

APPENDIX V – 1

DISTRICT – KISHTWAR

S.No. Name of Patwar Halqas Name of Villages

1. Kishtwar i. Kishtwar

2. Matta i. Matta

ii. Lachkhazana

iii. Hidyal

3. Pochhal i. Pochhal

ii. Lachdayara

4. Palmar i. Palmar

ii. Bandarkoot

5. Dool i. Dool

ii. Kawartinji

iii. Cheerji

6. Galharbata i. Galhar

ii. Bathan

iii. Dimji

iv. Dichla

v. Chignana

vi. Pias

7. Bhagna i. Bhagna

ii. Chandna

iii. Ajna

iv. Simnabatta

v. Chhichha

8. Pakalan i. Pakalan

ii. Dharbdan

iii. Sarawah

9. Feller i. Feller

ii. Loidhar

10. Keshwan i. Keshwan

ii. Sirgawari

iii. Anjool

11. Sangana i. Sangana

ii. Mali

iii. Kutal

iv. Preshmola

v. Nagbuttana

vi. Bendera

vii. Bhutna

12. Shandri i. Shandri

ii. Bhatkoot

iii. Ohli

iv. Barshalla

v. Hadar

vi. Haloor

vii. Akarhang

13. Trigam i. Trigam

ii. Janwas

iii. Drab

14. Krool i. Krool

ii. Agral

iii. Lawa

iv. Gahan

v. Chandali

vi. Pora

15. Badhat i. Badhat

ii. Joshana

iii. Salana

iv. Bharoti

v. Bhugrana

vi. Khori

vii. Duga

viii. Lass

ix. Dhar

x. Chalasoo

xi. Kalchanda

16. Londari i. Londari

ii. Tatani

iii. Sharoti

iv. Dgarbangar

v. Kukarwas

vi. Naju

vii. Kawarthara

viii. Mander

ix. Garh (Saroor)

17. Mulchetter i. Mulchitter

ii. Tagood

18. Sigdi i. Sigdi

ii. Batta

19. Chhatroo i. Chhatroo

ii. Dichhar

iii. Udilgujran

20. Inderwal i. Inderwal

21. Kuchal i. Kuchal

ii. Rehalthal

22. Chingam i. Chingam

23. Drubeel i. Drubeel

ii. Horna

24. Sounder i. Sounder

25. Lopara i. Lopara

ii. Chhachha

26. Chanjer i. Chanjer

ii. Teller

27. Deharna i. Deharna

ii. Hanzal

28. Qadarna i. Qadarna

29. Loharna i. Loharna

ii. Janakpur

30. Renie i. Renie

31. Nowpachi i. Nowpachi

ii. Nowgam

iii. Dehraie

32. Yourdoo i. Yourdoo

ii. Pethgam

33. Margi i. Margi

ii. Gumri

iii. Basmina

iv. Rekanwas

v. Sukhnaie

34. Inshan i. Inshan

ii. Mulwarwan

iii. Mungli

iv. Afti

v. Choidraman

vi. Brian

35. Atholi i. Atholi

ii. Kundal

iii. Lader

iv. Afani

v. Jar

vi. Kadail

vii. Kidroo

viii. Sazar

36. Gulabgarh i. Gulabgarh

ii. Mati

iii. Lai

iv. Lundi

v. Ligri

vi. Pandail

vii. Garh

37. Massu i. Massu

ii. Palali

iii. Chashoti

iv. Muchal

v. Hangu

vi. Loseni

vii. Hamori

38. Sohal i. Sohal

ii. Kaban

iii. Ongai

iv. Chito

39. Ishtiyari i. Ishtiyari

ii. Tiyari

iii. Batwas

iv. Chag

v. Muthal

vi. Tund

Total: 39 Patwar Halqas 145 Villages

APPENDIX V – 2

MAP SHOWING THE BOUNDARIES OF DISTRICT KISHTWAR

APPENDIX V – 3

TEHSIL – ATHOLI (PADDAR)

S.No. Name of Patwar Halqas Name of Villages

1. Atholi i. Atholi

ii. Kundal

iii. Lader

iv. Afani

v. Jar

vi. Kadail

vii. Kidroo

viii. Sazar

2. Gulabgarh i. Gulabgarh

ii. Mati

iii. Lai

iv. Lundi

v. Ligri

vi. Pandail

vii. Garh

3. Massu i. Massu

ii. Palali

iii. Chashoti

iv. Muchal

v. Hangu

iv. Loseni

vii. Hamori

4. Sohal i. Sohal

ii. Kaban

iii. Ongai

iv. Chito

5. Ishtiyari i. Ishtiyari

ii. Tiyari

iii. Batwas

iv. Chag

v. Muthal

vi. Tund

Total: 5 Patwar Halqas 32 Villages

APPENDIX V – 4

MAP SHOWING THE BOUNDARIES OF TEHSIL ATHOLI (PADDER)