NEW DELHI: Ahead of the delimitation exercise in Assam, the state government on Saturday remerged four new districts with those which were bifurcated to create them.After the government’s decision, the governor issued orders for their merger with their original districts. A government notification said the decision was made for “administrative expediency and in the interest of public service”.
Biswanath, Hojai, Bajali and Tamulpur are the four full-fledged districts merged with their original districts.The notification also said the “administrative districts” of East Kamrup and South Kamrup were merged with their original districts — Kamrup (Metro) and Kamrup respectively.Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the decision was made as the Election Commission (EC) had enforced a ban on reshuffling administrative units in the state from January 1 ahead of the commencement of the delimitation exercise.“This decision is not permanent. This is for a transition phase for administrative reasons and in the interest of Assam keeping in mind its future,” Sarma told reporters without disclosing the reasons.
He said he had visited some of these districts when they were inaugurated and when he himself had to take this decision, there had to be some reasons or why the state government would take such a “big decision”.
“We are sorry that we had to make this interim decision in a hurry. I seek forgiveness from the people of these four districts. Sometimes, you need to take some harsh decisions but we will return to people with dividends,” the CM promised.He said the ministers would visit the four districts and explain to the public why this decision had to be made. He sought their cooperation. He also said that the government would review the decision at an appropriate time.He said certain offices established in the four erstwhile districts would keep functioning.
“In some places, the offices of the deputy commissioners (district magistrates) are being constructed. The construction will continue. The DCs will keep serving but as Sub-Divisional Officer in-charge. Once they are transferred, senior ADCs will take over as SDO. They will do all the works which a DC does. We are doing this to ensure that people don’t have to face hardship by going to the original districts for various works,” Sarma said.