Divergent views on proposal to bifurcate Godavari districts

Kakinada: Divergent views are expressed on the proposal to bifurcate the Godavari districts. Majority of people are reportedly not in favour of bifurcation of East and West Godavari district.

According to sources, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is mulling splitting district and making each Lok Sabha constituency a district. Rampachodavaram Assembly segment is under Araku Lok Sabha constituency, though the constituency is in East Godavari District.

There are three Lok Sabha constituencies, such as Kakinada, Rajahmahendravaram and Amalapuram in East Godavari and Narasapuram and Eluru in West Godavari. People in the two districts worship the River Godavari. The river holds a deep significance in the two districts.

But it is felt that politicians toes their respective party lines thought some of them are not in favour of bifurcating the two the districts. "Even the British colonial government could not divide these districts," it is said. Sir Arthur Cotton Farmers Welfare Association President Nekkanti Srinivas urged the government not to bifurcate the two districts. If the Chief Minister wants to bifurcate these districts, it is nothing but doing injustice to people, he said.

CPI (M) East Godavari district secretariat member Duvva Seshubabji said Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has promised to carve out each Lok Sabha constituency as a district during the electioneering. He said that the people are demanding a separate district for the tribal people exclusively. He said the Central government has issued a directive that no districts should be created till 2022,

Narasapuram MP Raghu Rama Krishna Raju told The Hans India that the people have to abide by the decision of the State government. But Godavari has a hoary past and everyone should endeavour to preserve the sacredness of the river as well as its culture. In his opinion, if bifurcation is inevitable, Narasapur should be christened as Vasistha Godavari district, and the other constituencies as North, East ,West and South. Godavari districts. He also suggested that Aruku area be christened as Alluri Sita Rama Raju district.

Telugu Desam leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Nimmakayala China Rajappa said the leaders would toes the party's line on the issue.