Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday announced his government’s decision to create 19 new districts and three new divisions in the state, earmarking Rs 2,000 crore for development of infrastructure for them.
This is the first time since 2008 that new districts are being carved out, taking the number of districts to 50. Gehlot made the announcement in the Rajasthan Assembly, which also passed the 2023-24 Budget with a voice vote.
“The state will now have 19 new districts,” the Chief Minister said during a discussion on the Budget. The three new divisions will be in Banswara, Pali and Sikar, he said. In 2008, then CM Vasundhara Raje had made Pratapgarh a district.
The new districts are Anoopgarh, which was part of Ganganagar; Balotra (Barmer); Beawar (Ajmer); Kekri (Ajmer); Deeg (Bharatpur); Deedwana-Kuchaman (Nagaur); Dudu (Jaipur); Gangapur City (Sawai Madhopur); Jaipur North; Jaipur South; Jodhpur East; Jodhpur West; Kotputli-Behror (Jaipur-Alwar); Khertal (Alwar); Neem ka Thana (Sikar); Phalodi (Jodhpur); Salumber (Udaipur); Sanchore (Jalore); and Shahpura (Bhilwara).
Reacting to the announcement, former Rajasthan Chief Minister and BJP leader Vasundhara Raje said, “This is an attempt to fulfil personal political self-interests. Several important facts have been overlooked in the process of creating new districts. And, so rather than facilitating things, people will have to face administrative difficulties due to creation of these new districts.”
She also said that the CM's announcment has "put the entire economic system of Rajasthan at stake". "The consequences of which will have to be borne by the people of the state and the state in the years to come," she added.
(With inputs from PTI)
