Centre’s gazette hurdle hits State

Centre’s gazette hurdle hits State
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Highlights

Though it is four months since the State government had informed the Union government about creation of 21 new districts, the Centre has not yet notified the same in the official gazette.

Hyderabad: Though it is four months since the State government had informed the Union government about creation of 21 new districts, the Centre has not yet notified the same in the official gazette. As a result, the State government is deprived of many Central benefits which include denial of the right to seek more IAS and IPS officials on the basis of the total number of districts in the State.

The government is also said to be in doldrums with regard to sending fresh proposals seeking Central funds under Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) scheme and infrastructure development programmes in the Left wing extremist-affected districts. Other important schemes including establishment of Centrally-sponsored educational institutions have also been delayed.

Top officials of the State government told The Hans India that the proposal to notify the districts had been forwarded to all concerned departments including Union Ministry of Home, Finance and Department of Personnel and Training. The State government has been demanding at least 40 IAS officials in addition to the existing 110 bureaucrats for smooth governance.

According to officials of the State Revenue Department, the government is expecting more funds under BGRF scheme. At present, nine districts have been notified as backward districts and are receiving Rs 50 crore each every year. The government’s bargaining capacity would go up if more number of districts is declared ‘backward’.

The establishment of Centrally-assisted Navodaya Schools and technical training institutes like ITIs were also not grounded. The government has been demanding setting up of Navodaya School in all the new big districts and the proposals have already been sent to the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD).

The quantum of funds being received by the State for infrastructure development in Maoist infested districts would also be increased once the new districts are notified in the gazette. The officials said the State government had already taken up a study on the Maoist infested areas in the new districts. At present, Khammam, Adilabad and Warangal have been notified as extremist-affected districts in Telangana.

Taking serious note of the issue, Resident Commissioner of Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi Arvind Kumar and State Special Representative S Venugopala Chary have been asked to pursue the issue seriously with the Centre, according to official sources.

By Patan Afzal Babu

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