The process of reorganisation of districts was given momentum on Saturday with Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao holding preliminary consultations with representatives of political parties followed by a Cabinet meeting and getting their nod for taking up the exercise officially, although they expressed some reservations.
As stated earlier this month, the Chief Minister announced that the draft notification for reorganisation of districts, revenue divisions and mandals (tehsils) would be issued on August 22 under the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Districts Reorganisation Act, 1974, which was adopted by the Telangana Government.
“The real exercise will commence now, even as a committee headed by Chief Secretary and Cabinet Sub-Committee had carried out some preparatory work already,” the Chief Minister said speaking to newspersons after the Cabinet meeting.
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People would be given 30 days time to give their suggestions or lodge objections on the draft proposals either with the district Collectors or Chief Commissioner of Land Administration, he said, adding that districts were being reorganised for administrative ease, convenience, betterment and development of people as promised in the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) manifesto.
Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao, however, said: Final decision on new districts won’t be against people’s wishes and any proposal won’t be rubbed on them.
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Referring to the demands for some districts being made by leaders of various political parties, he said there is no viability to their proposals and some sections were also opposing such proposals.
“They must understand that the government is not against those areas. A separate strategy will be adopted for their development,” he said, and asked them not to get disheartened.
Explaining the process, the Chief Minister said full-page advertisements would be given in newspapers so that people could come to an understanding as to where their area would be after reorganisation of mandals, revenue divisions and districts.
He assured that proposals in the draft notification would not be final and they could undergo changes as per people’s wishes.
Centre to be petitioned
On the issue of zonal system for employees, he explained how the system came into being with the Presidential Order after the constitutional amendment on implantation of Mulki Rules framed by the erstwhile Nizam’s Government in 1920. “When Andhra Pradesh itself has become irrelevant in that context, so is the Presidential Order,” he noted, stating that the Centre would also be approached on the issue. He assured that seniority and rights of employees would not be affected even after reorganisation of districts.