Himachal Speaker Pathania seeks replies on power, SC records, drug menace
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh's Zero Hour on 31 August exposed three stubborn governance gaps at once: power cuts blocking World Bank-funded water schemes in Bilaspur, a digitisation error stripping a Scheduled Caste community of its certificates, and a synthetic drug crisis in Balh where a previously sanctioned police station was reportedly shut down by the current government.
Key Takeaways
Speaker Kuldeep Pathania directed departments to reply immediately to public grievances raised during Zero Hour on 31 August in Shimla .
Bilaspur MLA Trilok Jamwal flagged all-day power outages stalling drinking water schemes and disrupting online education, urging faster World Bank -funded project tenders.
A spelling discrepancy between old and digitised revenue records is blocking the 'Phaleda' Scheduled Caste community from obtaining valid SC certificates, with records incorrectly showing 'Papeda' .
Balh MLA Inder Singh Gandhi demanded a new police station to tackle rising 'Chitta' synthetic drug abuse, noting a previously sanctioned station was revoked by the current government.
Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Pathania on Monday, 31 August directed concerned state departments to submit immediate responses on public grievances flagged by legislators during the Zero Hour session of the Assembly in Shimla. The issues raised spanned erratic electricity supply, flawed revenue records affecting Scheduled Caste communities, and a worsening law and order situation linked to synthetic drug abuse.
Power Crisis in Bilaspur
Bilaspur legislator Trilok Jamwal drew the House's attention to chronic low voltage and unscheduled power cuts crippling his constituency. He said the erratic supply was stalling drinking water schemes, disrupting distribution networks, and hampering children's studies and online coaching sessions, with outages stretching through entire days in several areas. Jamwal specifically urged the government to expedite tenders for pending projects, including those financed by the World Bank.
SC Community Caught in Records Glitch
Barsar MLA Indradutt Lakhanpal raised a critical administrative issue affecting the Scheduled Caste 'Phaleda' community. He explained that while old revenue records correctly carried the community's name, a spelling error in digitised records had entered them as 'Papeda'. The discrepancy is reportedly blocking members from obtaining new Scheduled Caste certificates and invalidating existing ones. Lakhanpal demanded that computer records be corrected immediately to match original revenue documents.
Drug Menace and Law and Order in Balh
Balh MLA Inder Singh Gandhi raised alarm over rising cases of 'Chitta' — a synthetic drug — in the upper Balh region, warning that the law and order situation was deteriorating rapidly. He demanded the immediate establishment of a police station in the area to curb crime. Gandhi noted that the previous Jai Ram government had sanctioned a police station for the region, a decision he said was subsequently revoked by the current administration. He argued that the worsening ground situation made reopening the matter urgent.
Speaker's Directive
Acknowledging the gravity of each issue raised, Speaker Pathania called on the relevant departments to furnish replies without delay, signalling that the Assembly would track follow-through on these grievances. The session underscored persistent gaps between administrative records and ground realities across several Himachal Pradesh districts. How swiftly the departments respond will determine whether Monday's Zero Hour translates into tangible relief for affected communities.
Point of View
A digitisation error that the administration has apparently not caught for years, and a police station sanctioned and then withdrawn — each points to a pattern of decisions that are announced but not sustained. Speaker Pathania's directive for immediate departmental replies is procedurally correct, but the Assembly has no binding enforcement mechanism beyond political pressure. Whether these grievances move from the floor to the field will depend on whether the ruling dispensation treats Zero Hour as a genuine accountability forum or a ritual safety valve.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What issues were raised during Zero Hour in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on 31 August?
Legislators raised three key issues: chronic power cuts and low voltage in Bilaspur affecting water supply and online education; a digitisation error blocking Scheduled Caste 'Phaleda' community members from obtaining valid SC certificates; and rising synthetic drug ('Chitta') abuse and deteriorating law and order in the Balh region.
What is the 'Phaleda'-'Papeda' records discrepancy?
Old revenue records correctly list the Scheduled Caste community as 'Phaleda', but a spelling error in computerised records entered the name as 'Papeda'. This mismatch is preventing community members from obtaining new SC certificates and invalidating existing ones, according to Barsar MLA Indradutt Lakhanpal.
Why is Balh MLA demanding a new police station?
Balh MLA Inder Singh Gandhi cited rising cases of 'Chitta', a synthetic drug, and a worsening law and order situation in upper Balh. He noted that the previous Jai Ram government had sanctioned a police station for the area, which the current government reportedly revoked, and demanded its immediate restoration.
What action did Speaker Kuldeep Pathania take on these grievances?
Speaker Pathania acknowledged the gravity of the issues and directed the concerned state departments to submit immediate replies, signalling that the Assembly would monitor follow-through on the grievances raised during Zero Hour.
How are power cuts affecting Bilaspur residents?
According to Bilaspur MLA Trilok Jamwal, unscheduled outages lasting all day are disrupting drinking water distribution schemes, hampering children's studies, and blocking access to online coaching. He urged the government to expedite tenders for pending projects, including those funded by the World Bank.
