Prominent traders’ organisations and civil society members in the region of Bhiloda and Shamlaji have urged the Chief Minister of Gujarat to declare the Shamlaji in the Aravalli district as a taluka.
Various groups under the leadership of former Chairman of Aravalli District Panchayat, Rajendra Bhai Pargi have demanded that it would be the right thing to do in order to ease the difficulties faced by the people in the region.
The groups making this demand are maintaining that while the Shamlaji region is very large geographically, villages inside are remotely located. Shamlaji is about 25 km from Mota Kantharia from the Rajasthan border. Shamlaji with a majority of the tribal population is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre along with nearby Khedbrahma. Shamlaji was an important Hindu centre in the sixth century. The Shamlaji temple is dedicated to Vishnu.
The people in Shmalaji are required to travel up to 45 km from the Rajasthan border to reach the present administrative headquarters Bhiloda. The distance from the Meghraj border to Wakatimba is 32 Kms. Dhuleta ( 3 KM ), Devni Mori ( 3 KM ) , Bhavanpur ( 4 KM ), Dhandhasan ( 4 KM ) , and Shamalpur ( 4 KM ) are the nearby Villages to Shamlaji. Shamalaji is surrounded by Bichiwara Taluka towards the East, Meghraj Taluka towards the South, Modasa Taluka towards the South, and Vijaynagar Taluka towards the North. Modasa, Idar, Himatnagar, and Khedbrahma are the nearby Cities of Shamalaji.
The population is largely poor and it would be a boon for them if the money spent to visit Bhiloda for administrative work is saved. Since the State transport buses do not cater to remote villages, the citizens of the area face hardships.
The demanding groups have sent the resolution and their sentiments to the effect to the state government urging the to declare Shamlaji as a taluka.
