Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday announced the creation of two more districts with Tenkasi and Chengalpattu as their headquarters. With this, the number of districts in Tamil Nadu rises to 35.
Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, Mr. Palaniswami said the decision follows requests from Ministers, MLAs and the general public that new districts should be created out of big districts to ensure better administration.
He said Tirunelveli would be bifurcated to create a new district with Tenkasi as the headquarters. Similarly, Kancheepuram would be bifurcated to create a new district. Chengalpattu would be the new headquarters. The Chief Minister said each new district would have an IAS officer as a special officer.
Special allocation
In January, Mr. Palaniswami announced creation of Kallakurichi district, carved out of Villupuram.
Since Villupuram Municipality was celebrating its centenary, the Chief Minister on Thursday allocated ₹50 crore for developing infrastructure. The money would be used for providing drinking water, street lights, roads, underground drainage, bus stands, parks, anganwadis, ponds and municipal service centres.
The new Tenkasi district is likely to comprise Alangulam, Tenkasi, Kodayanallur, Vasudevanallur and Sankarankoil Assembly constituencies under its administration.
A few days ago, Mr. Palaniswami had announced in Tenkasi that the government was considering creating a new district.
While welcoming the creation of new districts, PMK founder S. Ramadoss said Vellore district, which had the maximum number of 13 Assembly constituencies should be split into three with Arakkonam and Tirupattur as separate districts.
Final decision awaited
Revenue Minister R.B. Udayakumar, however, said a final decision had not yet been taken on the areas to be covered under the new districts and the special officers would hold public hearings before finalising the jurisdiction.
Asked whether Kumbakonam would be made a new district, he said the local MLA G. Anbalagan had been making the demand and it was under the consideration of the government.
