Peerzada Sayeed
Karnah, Oct 3 (JKNS): In a significant development for the residents of the remote and difficult-to-access Jabdi Bijaldhar area of Karnah, the long-pending demand for construction of a Jabdi Bijaldara House at Baghbhella has finally received administrative approval from the District Administration Kupwara.
The District Development Commissioner (DDC), Kupwara, vide Order No. 560-DDCK of 2026 dated October 3, 2026, has accorded Administrative Approval for construction of the facility at an estimated cost of ₹102.26 lakh, approximately ₹1.02 crore.
The project has been sanctioned under the District Capex Budget, Untied Grants 2026-27, while its execution has been entrusted to the R&B Division Tangdhar.
The approval is being welcomed as an important step towards addressing a long-standing difficulty faced by the people of Jabdi Bijaldara, one of the most remote and geographically challenging areas of Karnah.
Remote location and harsh winter conditions
Jabdi Bijaldara is located nearly 50 kilometres from the Tehsil Headquarters, Karnah, and the difficult mountainous terrain makes travelling to and from the area particularly challenging, especially during the winter months.
Heavy snowfall frequently disrupts road connectivity in the region, while several stretches remain vulnerable to avalanches and other weather-related disruptions. As a result, residents can sometimes remain cut off from the Tehsil headquarters for prolonged periods.
For people travelling from Jabdi Bijaldara for administrative work, healthcare, education, official matters and other essential purposes, returning to their villages during such periods can become extremely difficult.
In such circumstances, the proposed facility at Baghbhella is expected to provide an important shelter and accommodation facility for residents and other people who may be stranded or unable to return to their villages because of adverse weather and road closures.
Demand remained pending for several years
The demand for establishing a suitable rest-house facility at Baghbhella had remained pending for several years. The issue had repeatedly been raised in connection with the difficulties faced by residents of the remote Jabdi Bijaldara belt.
The demand also gained attention during the election period, when MLA Karnah Javid Ahmad Mirchal had assured people that a rest-house facility should be established at Baghbhella to address the difficulties faced by residents travelling from the remote area.
With the issuance of the administrative approval, the demand has now moved beyond the proposal stage and taken a significant step towards implementation.
Facility expected to provide relief during winter.
The proposed Jabdi Bijaldara House is expected to serve as an important facility during the harsh winter season, particularly when heavy snowfall and avalanche threats disrupt connectivity.
Residents travelling to Karnah headquarters and other areas for essential work could use the facility when weather conditions prevent them from returning home.
The project is therefore being viewed not merely as a construction activity but as a facility aimed at addressing a practical problem faced by residents of a geographically isolated area.
For families living in remote villages, prolonged road closures can create difficulties in accessing government offices, healthcare services and other essential facilities. The availability of accommodation at Baghbhella could help reduce some of these hardships.
MLA welcomes approval
MLA Karnah Javid Ahmad Mirchal welcomed the administrative approval and expressed gratitude to the District Administration Kupwara for considering the long-pending demand of the people of Jabdi Bijaldara.
He said the project would address an important requirement of the remote and snowbound area and provide much-needed support to residents, particularly during periods of heavy snowfall and road closures.
The approval, according to the MLA, represents an important step towards improving basic facilities for people living in difficult and far-flung areas of the constituency.
Residents express relief
Residents of Jabdi Bijaldara have also welcomed the decision and expressed gratitude to the MLA and the District Administration for taking the demand forward.
They said that people from the area have been facing difficulties for years due to the lack of a suitable facility where they could stay during periods when harsh weather conditions make travel to their villages impossible.
The residents said the sanction of the ₹1.02 crore project has generated a sense of relief and hope among the people, particularly ahead of the winter season.
More than an infrastructure project
For the people of Jabdi Bijaldara, the administrative approval represents more than the construction of another government facility. It marks the movement of a long-pending public demand towards implementation and is expected to provide practical support to residents of one of Karnah’s most remote and winter-affected areas.
The next important step will be the execution of the sanctioned work by the R&B Division Tangdhar, so that the facility can be completed and made available to the people at the earliest.
After years of waiting, the people of Jabdi Bijaldara have finally received the green signal for a facility they have been demanding for years one that could become particularly valuable during the difficult winter months when snowfall, avalanches and road closures isolate the area from the rest of Karnah.(JKNS)
