A delegation led by Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Kishore Upadhyaya met Chief Minister Harish Rawat and submitted a memorandum demanding that the formation of new districts promised in the Congress election manifesto of 2012 should be fulfilled.
According to the Uttarakhand PCC media coordinator Surendra Singh Arya, the memorandum submitted by the PCC chief to the CM states the view of the party regarding the demand for creation of new districts in Uttarakhand. “In its election manifesto of 2012 the party had promised to the public creation of new districts. The party has taken cognisance of media reports about the State Government declining the creation of new districts. In this regard, on the basis of the Congress election manifesto, we request the State Government to reconsider its decision on the creation of new districts in order to facilitate swift development and able administration,” said Upadhyaya to the CM.
Responding to the issue raised in the memorandum, the Chief Minister said that the party is the custodian of the people’s trust. The State Government will attempt to retain the trust of the public when it comes to promises made in the party’s election manifesto. A cabinet sub-committee will be formed soon to prioritise the implementation of the party’s election manifesto, the Chief Minister assured the delegation. The CM further asked the party delegation to submit suggestions after reaching general consensus on the form and headquarters of the new districts. Rawat assured the delegation that shortage of funds would not be a problem if concrete suggestions are received.
It is pertinent to note here that those in favour of creating new districts state that this will overcome problems caused by geographical features of the mountain State. Creation of new districts will reduce the gap between the public and administration and also improve governance. MlAs Sunder lal Mandrawal, Rajkumar, RS Bhandari and other party leaders were part of the delegation.