How Many New Districts? Demand for Narayanpet, Bhadrachalam Crops Up

Hyderabad: Hours after constituting a panel on demand for four new districts-- Sircilla, Jangaon, Gadwal and Asifabad-- demand for few more districts is gaining momentum. The demand for Narayanpet and Bhadrachalam is cropping up. Ruling party MLA from Narayanpet, S Rajender Reddy, has decided to tender his resignation to the Speaker in support of the demand.

On other hand, CPM MLA from Bhadrachalam Sunnam Rajaiah and other local leaders have been demanding district status to Bhadrachalam.

The demand for Narayanpet and Bhadrachalam is cropping up. Ruling party MLA from Narayanpet, S Rajender Reddy, has decided to tender his resignation to the Speaker in support of the demand.

Dasara festival on October 11 will be a historical day for Telangana as the State will have new geo-graphical map comprising new districts.

Earlier, Narayanpet was considered to be the fourth district to be created in Mahabubnagar district. As of now, Mahabubnagar will be divided into Mahabubnagar, Gadwal, Nagarkurnool and Wanaparthy districts.

Reddy says Narayanpet people are angry over the denial of district status. He further said that "we expected Narayanpet would be in the consideration list of the Panel and it would be the fourth district in Mahabubnagar, but Panel has been set up for only Sircilla, Gadwal, Jangaon and Asifabad."

CPM Bhadrachalam unit Secretary and MLA Sunnam Rajaiah and other local leaders have been raising voice for district status to Bhadrachalam. As per the latest decision, Bhadrachalam will be part of Kothagudem district as the new district is named as Bhadradri Kothagudem.

Narayanpet Zilla Sadhana Samiti is spearheading the agitation for new district status. Reddy further said he already made several requisitions to the Chief Minister K Chandrashekhara Rao and ministers including those represent Mahabubnagar.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday constituted a high-power committee to consider the demand for creating four new districts. The Panel on new districts is expected to submit its report on October 7.

Headed by K Keshava Rao, the high-powered committee comprises Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Ali, ministers Jagdish Reddy, P Srinivas Reddy and Jogu Ramanna as members. The committee will study the demands from public representatives and people for creating four new districts.

The government last month issued draft notification for creating 17 new districts and sought people's suggestions. There are strong demands for creating Jangaon district in Warangal, Sircilla in Karimnagar, Gadwal in Mahabubnagar and Asifabad in Adilabad.

These districts witnessed protests by local leaders of all political parties and shutdowns over last few weeks.

Final notification this week

The government plans to issue final notification this week so that the new districts come into existence from Dussehra. If the State government concedes the demand for creating four more districts, the total number of districts in the country's youngest and 29th state to 31.

KCR said new districts were being created for administrative convenience and better and transparent governance. KCR feels smaller districts make it easy for the government to ensure better implementation of welfare schemes.

The Chief Minister has been holding consultations with leaders from various districts. The Chief Minister made it clear that he would not like to make any section of people unhappy over the process of reorganization of districts and hence there will be no problem in creating a few more districts.

There's also intensified demand for creation of Bhadrachalam as separate district. CPM Bhadrachalam unit Secretary and MLA Sunnam Rajaiah and other local leaders have been raising voice for district status to Bhadrachalam. As per the latest decision, Bhadrachalam will be part of Kothagudem district as the new district is named as Bhadradri Kothagudem.

Kothagudem TRS MLA Jalagam Venkat Rao offered prayers at Sri Sita Rama temple at Bhadrachalam.

Rajaiah criticized the TRS government as it's biased towards Bhadrachalam as this backward region suffered after bifurcation of the state and need special support.

Congress Demands Revenue Division for Huzurnagar

Coming to Nalgonda, TPCC President N Uttam Kumar Reddy submitted a petition to Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma requesting the government to make Huzurnagar in the district a Revenue division. Congress MLA Vamsi Chand Reddy expressed concern over denial of Revenue division status to Kalwakurthy. However, KCR has already directed the officials to study its feasibility.

Meanwhile, the high-power committee has been busy with meeting people from four districts in ascertaining the feasibility of new districts.

Final notification on October 11

KCR will inaugurate new districts on Dasara festival day by announcing Siddipet and other new districts, while ministers and Chief Secretary will unveil other new districts. District public representatives will announce Revenue divisions and new mandals. A new schedule of inauguration on new districts, revenue divisions and mandals is being prepared.

Asifabad district will be named after Komuram Bhim. Sircilla district will be Rajanna district. Siddipet will get new police commisionarate. Manoharabad and Markook will be new mandals. Chevella mandal will be included in Shamshabad district, which will be named as Ranga Reddy district.

KCR has directed Chief Secretary to deploy government employees to all the new districts from day one. Police promotions are also under consideration in view of the new districts.