Imtiyaz Wani
Eleven kilometres away from Baramulla town nestled in beautiful forests of Kail, Pine and Fir is located one of the beautiful village – Hajibal.
This village is also gateway to the breath taking meadows Bosian, Gabiwaar and Qazinag. After remaining in neglect for years together efforts were made to bring this entire area right from Hajibal to Viji on the map of J&K Tourism, however, it seems the government has again gone in slumber and claims of turning this entire region into beautiful tourism spots is again turning into a dream difficult to achieve.
This tiny hamlet hemmed deep inside the forests however, lacks basic facilities. Those living in this picturesque village always think of migrating this place and many families have already shifted to the plains of maintop.
‘It’s such a wonderful place that nobody wants to leave it. But lack of basic facilities have forced people of this hamlet to migrate,’ says Shabir Ahmad. He says that the only good thing that happened to the villagers was construction of PMGSY road from Baramulla to the village,” says Bashir Ahmad who lives in the village but has constructed house in the main town.
“Earlier villagers had horses or trek to reach Baramulla after construction of road the vehicles reach inside the village.”
Another villager Shabir Ahmad said that once road got completed villagers were happy that now other amenities will also reach into the village. “So far this has remained unfulfilled. And we are waiting for day when village will turn into a model village.”
Hajibal and its location if explored could be turned into wonderful tourist spot. Though locals from town Baramulla and its adjoining areas do visit this place but absence of infrastructure this place has failed to develop. The government had planned to construct five kilometre long foot trek from Hajibal to Bosian another breathe taking picturesque location but so far no work has started.
The government had also plan to connect the Bosian, Hajibal and Eco park Khadinyar through rope way to bring more local tourists to this place. However project is yet to take off. “The ropeway project could change the fate of this place and will bring this village and its adjoining areas on the tourism map of J-K,” said Idreees Ahmad a student. He said that soon after the village got road connectivity many influential people purchased huge tracks of land close to village hoping to open hotels and other amenities but government is moving at snails pace.
Legislator Baramulla Javid Baig said that it is in the interest of government if this place is developed into a tourism spot. “We have submitted several projects including construction of ropeway upto Bosian. Hope it will get approved.”
Village Profile
According to Census 2011 information the location code or village code of Haji Bal village is 2427. This village has the total geographical area of village is 165.9 hectares with a total population of 609 soula. There are about 95 houses in the village with 51%. 314 out of total 609 populations is literate here.
‘In males the literacy rate is 65% as 199 males out of total 302 are educated whereas female literacy rate is 37% as 115 out of total 307 females are educated here,” said an officer adding that the negative part is that the only negative part of this village is its illiteracy rate.
Five kilometers away from the village is Bosian it consists of large tracts of land hemmed with beautiful forests. This place is also famous potato cultivation and department of agriculture has established big seed farm and it is considered one of the best farms in the Valley.
Other than trekkers who used this place for stopover before heading towards Hajibal and Viji and Gabewar tops… ‘Hajibal, Bosain and Viji could be developed into a beautiful tourism related circuit. Unfortunately nobody is bothered about its development,” said Sajjad Ahmad resident of Baramulla town.
Read more:
