Dehra Dun: The district reorganisation commission, announced by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, would be headed by a senior IAS officer probably from the revenue department, official sources said on Thursday.
They said the matter related to setting up of the reorganisation commission would be put before the meeting of the state cabinet shortly.
Significantly, Bahuguna had yesterday announced the formation of the district reorganisation commission, a move that may close the chapter of creation of four districts by the previous BJP government.
Former chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, during his Independence Day speech last year, had announced the formation of four new districts Ranikhet, Didihaat, Kotdwar and Yamunotri apparently to boost the fortunes of the ruling BJP in the assembly elections which it lost by a whisker.
The new reorganisation commission will make a complete study of the state and give its report to the government, Bahuguna had said at a public rally in Gopeshwar.
The state cabinet in last November had merely given a
symbolic approval to the creation of four new districts in view of financial constraints as well as growing demand for the districts. The recurring cost and capital expenditure to create four new districts is around Rs 1,400 crore.
The cabinet had also set up a committee to study the matter related to the formation of four new districts. But the committee did not give any suggestion.
After the implementation of sixth pay commission which put an extra burden of Rs 2,500 crore on the state exchequer, the creation of four new districts was being seen as a major financial burden on the state which is already reeling under the impact of ballooning non-plan expenditure.
On creating one district, the revenue department had estimated that the recurring cost will be Rs 300 crore with a capital expenditure of Rs 50 crore. Even the government is unable to generate money for fulfilling its election manifesto promise of providing unemployment doles.
On the other hand, the government is also facing pressure from different regions for creation of nearly 10-15 more districts.
PTI
