The map of Telangna is all set to undergo a dramatic alteration as the Government’s decision to reorganise it into 31 districts will come into effect from Dussehra festival on Tuesday.
A formal notification in this regard will be promulgated on Sunday following the State Cabinet giving its formal nod to the draft notification.
Though officially Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari did not mention the number of districts to be formed at his Press briefing after the Cabinet meeting, sources confirmed that the State would now have 31 districts.
The high-powered committee headed by the TRS MP K Keshav Rao, set up to go into the demands for four more districts has submitted its report to the Chief Minister favouring the idea.
Separate official functions will be held in the headquarters to inaugurate the new districts. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will participate in the inauguration of the Siddipet districts carved out of Medak.
In a significant measure the State Government has cancelled the Dussehra holidays of the State Government employees, specially those in the departments of general administration, transport, home and municipal administration to carry out the necessary tasks related to the inauguration of the new districts.
“The new districts will start functioning from Dussehra day”, said Kadiam Srihari.
Sources said that the apprehension of somebody challenging the decision of reorganization of the districts in High Court has forced the Government to delay the notification till the last minute.
Following the notification the governor ESl Narasimhan will promulgate an Ordinance to implement the cabinet decision.
According to the sources the Chief Minister told the Cabinet that the reorganisation of the districts was a big step towards realising the dream of Golden Telangana. “It will give a new shape to the state”, he said asking the Ministers and officials to organise massive celebrations in all the new districts to mark the day.
The process of finalising the names of the new districts was still in progress as the Government had received several proposals.
Some of the districts will be named after prominent personalities like Prof Jayashankar, KV Ranga Reddy and tribal freedom fighter Komaram Bheem, Chakali Ailamma, and some after the Hindu dieties and temple like Bhadradari, Yadadri, Jogulamba. Suggestions were also received to name the new districts after the former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and other political figures like S Pratap Reddy, G Venkata Swamy and Rajbahadur Venkatrami Reddy.
While the name of Viqarabad was retained for one district, Shamsabad for another was unlikely to find a place in the final list.
While there was criticism over the manner the districts were being reorganised without considering the fact that there was severe shortage of officials and employees and the offices to run the administration in the new districts, the State Government was going ahead with the early inauguration.
The State Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy said that the steps were being taken to strengthen the police administration in all the new districts. The State Government has also planned to open new hospitals in 20 new districts by increasing the staff strength and upgrading the area hospitals.