Rajasthan to get 19 new districts after 15 years

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JAIPUR, Rajasthan: Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot announced the formation of 19 new districts including a newly carved one following the reshaping of the existing Jodhpur and Jaipur districts.

Sikar, Banswara, and Pali will be the three new administrative divisions added to the list of existing seven divisions.

The number of districts has gone up to 50, making Rajasthan the third state after Uttar Pradesh (71) and Madhya Pradesh (53) with the highest number of districts in the country. After CM Gerhlot extended the tenure of the Ram Lubhaya Committee which was given the task of the creation of new districts, the announcement came in just six days, surprising everyone.

Citing this, Rajendra Rathore, Deputy Leader of the opposition said, “The CM extended the tenure of the Lubhaya Committee and stated that there was a delay in receiving its report. It is hard to understand how the 19 districts have now been announced without receiving the report.”

The district of Jaipur has been divided into four new districts namely, Jaipur North, Jaipur South, Dudu and Kotputli-Behror. The district of Jodhpur has been reshaped into three districts-Jodhpur East, Jodhpur West and Phalodi.

One of the main reasons behind the downsizing of these huge districts was because of the deteriorating law and order. Although there wasn’t any popular demand for the creation of Jaipur North and South or Jodhpur East and West as separate districts.

The district of Ajmer has also been divided into Ajmer, Kekri and Beawar districts. The demand for a separate Beawar district is 40 years old. A demand for a separate district named Balotra from Barmer was pending too.

The creation of new districts in the state came after 15 years. Geographically Rajasthan is the largest state in the country, and many of its districts are more than 100 kilometres wide from one corner to the other, making it challenging for residents to get government services. “If the districts are smaller, then it helps in maintaining effective law and order, better administration can be provided,” he said.

The new 19 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).