Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 23: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has proposed a major administrative overhaul by seeking creation of new districts across the Union Territory.
As part of this initiative, PDP youth wing president and Pulwama MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para has introduced a private member’s bill—titled The Jammu and Kashmir Territorial Administrative Reorganization Bill, 2026—in the Legislative Assembly. The bill proposes carving out two new provinces—Chenab and Pir Panjal—from the existing Jammu division. Under the proposal, Chenab province would comprise Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar districts, with Doda as its headquarters, while Pir Panjal province would include Rajouri and Poonch districts, with its headquarters in Rajouri.
At present, Jammu and Kashmir has two divisions—Jammu and Kashmir—each comprising 10 districts. The second phase of the 2026 Budget Session of the Assembly is scheduled to commence on March 27, while the first phase was held from February 2 to February 20. In addition to the proposed reorganization of Jammu province, the PDP has also emphasized the creation of new districts, particularly in hilly and remote areas, to improve governance and service delivery.
In Kashmir division, the party has proposed the creation of seven new districts, including Tral-Awantipora (Pulwama), Ashmuqam (Anantnag), Beerwah (Budgam), Sopore (Baramulla), Handwara (Kupwara), Gurez (Bandipora), and Tangdar-Karnah (Kupwara).
Similarly, in Jammu division, the bill identifies several areas for district status, including Nowshera (Rajouri), Bhaderwah (Doda), Banihal (Ramban), Akhnoor (Jammu), Billawar (Kathua), Kotranka (Rajouri), and Mendhar (Poonch).
The PDP has argued that the move is aimed at streamlining administration and ensuring balanced regional development. It maintained that several districts, due to their vast size and difficult terrain, remain underdeveloped and underserved, and that the creation of smaller administrative units would help address these challenges and promote equitable growth across all regions. |
