Two new districts to be formed in Bauxite-rich tribal areas of AP
Araku from Visakhapatnam and Parvathipuram from Vizianagaram are being considered for two separate districts. The district headquarters could be set up at two of the places among Paderu, Araku and Parvathipuram
image for illustrative purpose
Visakhapatnam: Tribals in Visakhapatnam district are very happy with the indications that the government is going to carve out two new districts for the ST reserved Araku parliamentary constituency, which has seven Assembly constituencies from Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and East Godavari districts.
Araku parliamentary constituency, the second largest in India by size, had a voters strength of 12.72 lakh in 2019. It was formed in 2008 after delimitation of constituencies. It consists of seven (ST) reserved Assembly segments viz. Araku and Paderu in Visakhapatnam, Parvathipuram, Salur and Kurupam in Vizianagaram, Palakonda in Srikakulam and Rampachodavaram in East Godavari district. Some of the areas in the constituency are part of the red zone formed by the outlawed Maoists.
Scheduled areas like GK Veedhi, Chintapalle, Araku, Anantagiri and Rampachodavaram are known for having rich deposits of bauxite ore.
Earlier, plans to undertake bauxite for plants proposed by Jindal South West Aluminium Ltd, Anrak Aluminium Limited and Government of India-owned National Aluminium Company (NALCO) did not materialise due to protests over violation of Section 1/70 Regulation of Land Transfer Regulation Act.The three companies at one point of time had plans to invest nearly Rs 40,000 crore.
According to indications in the government, Araku from Visakhapatnam and Parvathipuram from Vizianagaram are being considered for two separate districts. The district headquarters could be set up at two of the places among Paderu, Araku and Parvathipuram. There is no confirmation regarding it.
"We welcome decentralisation for better governance in the scheduled areas. "We have been championing the cause of self-rule for the tribals," AP Girijan Sangham State vice-president Killo Surendra told Bizz Buzz on Tuesday.
The government is expected to make an announcement on formation of new districts, an election promise of the YSR Congress Party, by Republic Day after getting positive indications from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Earlier, the non-completion of census had emerged as a handicap. However, with the breaking out of the pandemic, the census will take some more time, and the Centre appears to have given clearance for changes in geographical boundaries of the districts for administrative convenience.
Smaller States like Telangana and Odisha have already created several new districts with the objective to bring administration at the doorsteps of the people.
At the time of 2019 elections, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had promised to form one district for each parliamentary constituency. AP has 25 Lok Sabha seats. Visakhapatnam will have more districts compared to other areas due to tribal factors. Anakapalle parliamentary constituency will have a separate district.
According to an IAS officer, who sought anonymity, formation of more districts will help them to tide over the worst-ever financial stress. More districts will make the State eligible to get additional funds for development and infrastructure creation.
