CS consults Collectors on carving of new districts

Chief Secretary Dr Rajiv Sharma today held a review meeting with district Collectors at Secretariat here and asked them to prepare a plan of modalities to raise the number of districts as was being desired by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.

In the crucial meeting, the Chief Secretary took stock of the discussion already held by them at MCR HRD on the need for formation of new districts on Tuesday and informed them of the KCR’s plan on the need for raising the number of the districts. The conference would take a decision only after KCR addresses the issue.

It is being said the State government plans to hold an all-party meeting to elicit opinions of the leaders of various political parties. Sources in the Secretariat said an all-party meet will help garner support to avoid future skirmishes and if necessary will go in for a public opinion. The Collectors reportedly got ready with a preliminary draft plans on increasing the number of districts to 30 though the State government was planning to increase the number of districts to 24 or 25 from the existing 10 districts.

The two-day Collectors’ conference will come out with a draft plan for the new districts as per the decision taken by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. The CM’s plan will raise the number of the districts for administrative ease and speedy governance with a focus on transparency and accountability. By the way, the mandals and divisions will also be increased as part of increasing the districts. The Chief Minister is keen on announcing the new districts by August this year. (NSS)