AP CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy is obviously following in the footsteps of Telangana CM K Chandrasekhara Rao in many aspects. Now, Jagan is proposing the creation of new districts out of the 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in the State. This is stated to be for administrative convenience and for effective implementation of government programmes. Will this Jagan plan give desired results? Will it help the people?
Analysts say that this may prove to be counter productive in some ways. There are certain Lok Sabha segments where distances will increase significantly making it difficult even more difficult for the people. For example, Sarvepalli and Gudur assembly segments are located within 30 kms range of Nellore city but they fall in Tirupati Lok Sabha segment. If new districts are formed, these people will have to travel 100 to 150 kms to reach Tirupati.
These geographic disadvantages are there in many segments. When Lok Sabha segments were created, the then officials looked at their convenience of conducting the elections from the respective district headquarters. Bapatla Lok Sabha headquarters is located at 55 kms distance from Guntur. But distant assembly segments in Prakasam district are brought under Bapatla seat. If there is a change, people of Martur and Chinaganjam will have to travel longer distances to reach Bapatla.
districts re-organization/revision should be based on practicalities – not based on MP or MLA constituencies which have their own criterion anyway. for eg: a perimeter of 60km as a benchmark from district HQ – all MLA constituencies will be formed as a district with a suitable centrally located constituency as district HQ; Another good strategy will be more revenue divisions created where 90% of the peoples’ works, issues are resolved, necessary infrastructure will be created – a medical college, hospital, a police sub-division, courts + many more with sky as limit; central funds to current district based devolution may be a challenge, but it could be supported by upping MLA contributions / MPLADS, state’s funds devolution at revenue division level, any new & innovative strategies; for eg. Gurazala revenue division, Dokka garu used his influence during Kiran’s regime to get it started, it took years to develop necessary infrastructure, Jagan’s regime had done a great good by sanctioning a medical hospital/college, now hopefully will be started sooner helping western prakasam, palanadu & Telangana border belt in Sagar, Miryalaguda, Devarakonda, Pedavoora