In Himachal Pradesh, first, hundreds of proposals were taken for forming new Gram Panchayats, and now the department has taken a U-turn of not forming them. The Panchayati Raj Department has given up on reorganizing only 43 Panchayats that were partially cut off from the Municipal Bodies. In such a situation, the 750 applications received for the formation of new Panchayats will not be considered now. The Directorate has sent a letter to the Panchayati Raj Minister in this regard that now there is neither time left to form new Panchayats nor is there a need to form them in view of the current circumstances.
Out of 3,615 Panchayats in Himachal, their number has now come down to 3,577. Due to the formation of new Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats, 42 Panchayats have been completely merged into them. 43 Panchayats have been partially cut off and these have been notified as new Panchayats. Four new Panchayats have been formed in Yol Cantt. Panchayats have been reorganized in districts like Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Kangra, Solan, Una, and Shimla. These are the 43 partially cut gram panchayats that have been reconstituted.
According to sources, the Resource Mobilization Committee formed to increase income and reduce expenditure in Himachal is also not in favor of opening new institutions in view of economic management in this financial year. The government is already facing a huge deficit in the current financial year. The Center has also reduced the revenue deficit grant significantly. According to sources, the government has also been given input that due to increased connectivity, now instead of increasing the number of panchayats, there is a need to merge them at many places. This will not have to face the problem of infrastructure and staff.