During the ongoing Winter Session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, legislators brought several pressing concerns from their constituencies to the forefront, prompting immediate attention from the chair. The issues, ranging from a critical shortage of fuel-wood in a snow-bound region to bureaucratic hurdles in Aadhaar updates, were highlighted in the Zero Hour on Wednesday.
Speaker Directs Action on MLA Concerns
Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania took cognizance of more than half a dozen issues raised by the members of the legislative assembly. He referred each matter to the concerned government departments for necessary examination and action, directing them to submit appropriate reports. The session is being held at the Vidhan Sabha in Tapovan, Dharamshala.
Crisis in the Snow Desert: Lahaul & Spiti's Fuel-Wood Shortage
Congress MLA from Lahaul & Spiti, Anuradha Rana, raised a grave issue concerning her constituency, often described as a 'snow desert'. She informed the House that the region, which is almost entirely covered in snow during winter, is facing an acute shortage of fuel-wood at government depots.
Rana attributed this crisis to the severe impact of the 2025 natural disaster, which disrupted forest availability and supply chains. With peak winter setting in, residents are left with no viable options for heating. The MLA urged the state government to ensure an immediate supply of fuel-wood to prevent families from suffering in the harsh sub-zero conditions.
Aadhaar Date of Birth Correction: A Tedious Ordeal for Residents
Another significant issue was raised by Congress MLA from Doon, Ram Kumar Chaudhary. He highlighted the immense difficulties faced by people in his constituency when trying to update or correct their date of birth (DoB) in Aadhaar records.
Chaudhary stated that citizens visiting local Common Service Centres (CSCs) are being redirected to Chandigarh for such corrections. This not only involves costly and inconvenient travel but also leads to further delays and procedural hassles at the Chandigarh centre. He appealed to the government to streamline the entire process within Himachal Pradesh itself, making it easily accessible, especially for the elderly population.
Administrative and Healthcare Infrastructure Gaps
BJP MLA from Jhanduta, Jeet Ram Katwal, brought attention to an acute shortage of tehsildars in his area. He emphasized that the absence of adequate revenue officers is causing significant delays in essential land-related services, creating unnecessary inconvenience for the public. Katwal requested the immediate filling of these vacant positions to ensure smooth administrative functioning.
Focusing on healthcare infrastructure, Congress MLA from Chamba, Neeraj Nayyar, stressed the urgent need to upgrade the Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College and Hospital in Chamba. He argued that the institution requires additional infrastructure, modern medical equipment, and more specialist doctors to adequately meet the growing healthcare demands of the district.
The Zero Hour discussions underscored the diverse challenges faced by residents across Himachal Pradesh, from basic survival needs in remote areas to improving digital and healthcare services. The government's response to the Speaker's directives will be closely watched.
