Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh on Monday announced the creation of nine new districts in the state.
The proposed districts — Sukma, Kondagaon, Gariabandh, Balodbazar, Mungeli, Balod, Bemetara, Surajpur, and Balrampur — will start functioning from January 1, 2012, Mr Singh said while addressing state-level Independence Day function here.
While Gariabandh and Balodbazar districts would be carved out of Raipur district, Durg and Sarguja districts would be trifurcated to form Balod, Bemetara, Surjpur and Balrampur districts. Similarly Dantewada, Bastar and Bilashpur districts will be bifurcated for creation of Sukma, Kondagaon and Mungeli districts.
With the formation of nine new districts, total districts in Chhattisgarh will go up to 27. “Creation of new districts will help bring administration closer to the people and accelerate development of backward areas in the state,” Mr Singh said.
The chief minister, however, opened the pandora’s box by declaring to establish nine new districts as the principal Opposition party in the state, Congress,-threatened to go to the streets demanding creation of two more new districts from Bilashpur and Raigarh districts.
Meanwhile, local Congress workers and leaders staged road block at Pendra demanding formation of new Gaurila Pendra district. They threatened to intensify their stir if their demand was not conceded.