Chhattisgarh to form new blocks, tehsils next year

Raipur, December 05

With an objective to decentralise administrative functions and expedite development works, Chhattisgarh government will constitute new blocks and tehsils next year. The reconstitution commission is likely to submit its report on blocks and tehsils to the newly elected government in January 2014. According to information, the commission will suggest the government to form 54 new blocks and over 50 new tehsils.

There were 16 districts in Chhattisgarh during its constitution as a State in year 2000. When the BJP government came to power in 2003, it announced to reconstitute districts, blocks and tehsils in phased manner to decentralise power and make smaller units more responsible.

In its first term, the saffron government reconstituted Bastar division and formed two new districts. Nine more districts were constituted during the party’s second term in Sarguja, Raipur, Bilaspur and Durg divisions.

The government then formed a commission chaired by former chief secretary of the State SK Mishra to reconstitute blocks and tehsils. Presently, there are 146 blocks and 148 tehsils in State. If the new government would accept the commission’s recommendations, the number of blocks and tehsils will touch the 200 mark.

The commission is said to have completed its report on reconstitution of blocks and is working on tehsils presently. For blocks, the commission had invited proposals from all the districts. Then, the commission held meetings in all the five divisions and sought opinion from local public representatives.

The report has been prepared on the basis of population and geographical conditions. The commission has recommended division of large blocks including Konta, Bilha, Abhanpur and Arang.

For reconstitution of tehsils, the commission had asked collectors to send proposal in October 2013, but the latter could not do so as they were engaged in poll preparations. The collectors have now been asked to send proposal till December end. The commission has also sought suggestions from people in this regard till December 20.

However, even if the commission succeeds in submitting its reports on blocks and tehsils by January end, the government will have to stall the process of reconstitution till June as code of conduct would come into effect for general elections to be held in April-May 2014.