The State Government has decided to redraw the boundaries of blocks and panchayats in the Maoist-affected Malkangiri district for the convenience of the people, particularly of the cut-off areas.
A decision to this effect was taken at the meeting of the State Cabinet here on Friday, presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The Kudumuluguma block having all the six gram panchayats of the cut-off area has been abolished and in its place a new block Chitrakonda has been created. The block headquarters will be at Chitrakonda town.
Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik said it took two to three days for the people of cut-off areas to reach block headquarters at Kudumuluguma through Andhra Pradesh. After the reorganisation it would be easier for them to reach Chitrakonda. However, the number of blocks and gram panchayats in the district will remain the same at seven and 108 respectively, he said.
The number of gram panchayats in Malkangiri block will increase from 13 to 19 while the Podia block will have eight compared to 10 earlier. Khairput block which had 9 gram panchayats will have 11 after the reorganisation. Kudumuluguma block had 11 gram panchayats. But the newly created Chitrakonda block will have 15. Chief Secretary said gram panchayats in Korukonda block will come down to 12 from 24. Kalimela block which had 21 gram panchayats will now have 23. In Mathili block it will remain at 20.
Panchayati Raj Minister Kalpataru Das said earlier Balimela reservoir was in the middle of Kudumuluguma block causing inconvenience, now blocks and panchayats have been reorganised in such a manner that few people will have to cross the reservoir to reach block or panchayat headquarters, he said.