Andhra Pradesh: Rejig of districts snowballs into a major controversy

Tirupati: With the officials committee on districts reorganisation in the state has reportedly submitted its report to the government earlier this week, Madanapalle Jilla Sadhana Samithi (MJSS) has been planning to intensify its 581-day long agitation. MJSS has been continuously demanding for making Madanapalle as the headquarters for the proposed new district though the division is currently part of Rajampet Parliamentary constituency.

It was learnt that the officials committee has recommended new districts along with its headquarters. Accordingly, Madanapalle, Piler, Punganur and Thamballapalle Assembly constituencies in Chittoor district will be part of the new Rajampet district which the people of those four constituencies were objecting.

To press their demand further, MJSS has decided to organise 'Sakala Janula Satyagraham' in a massive way on January 19 opposite historic BT College in Madanapalle. From the next day, they want to intensify their agitation with more activities. MJSS convenor PTM Sivaprasad and other leaders convened a press meet in Madanapalle on Sunday and called for the MLAs in the region to give clarity on the new proposals, as the people are very much worried about this.

Speaking to The Hans India, he said majority people have been demanding to make Madanapalle as district headquarters in place of Rajampet. He appealed to Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy not to resort to any sort of injustice to the people here with the love towards his own district. He expressed hope that though the name of the district will be Rajampet, Madanapalle may become the headquarters.

Meanwhile, the committee reportedly recommended new revenue divisions in each new district. As part of rejig of the existing revenue divisions, Palamaneru will become the new revenue division in which four mandals in Kuppam constituency and five divisions each from Puthalapattu and Palamaneru will be included. Similarly, six mandals from Pileru division are to become part of new Rayachoti division.

The committee estimated that proposed Tirupati district which will have three constituencies from Chittoor and four from Nellore district may consist of 9,155 sq.km area with 21.78 lakh population while Chittoor district will be confined to 7,044 sq.km area with 20.08 lakh population. Proposed Rajampet district will have 9,944 sq.km and a population of 20.61 lakhs. However, the government has to take a final decision on the rejig of the districts weighing various factors.