Karnataka Cabinet clears two new districts

Bangalore, June 21 (UNI) Karnataka Cabinet today approved the formation of two new districts, Ramanagara and Chikballapura, to facilitate better administration.

Briefing mediapersons here after the cabinet meeting, Home Minister M P Prakash said while Kolar district was bifurcated to form the Chikballapura district, Ramanagara, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's assembly constituency, was formed as a new district comprising four taluks, dividing the Bangalore Rural district.

He said Chikballapura would have six taluks with a population of 11.49 lakhs in 1514 villages. The population in Ramanagara district was 10.08 lakhs with 827 villages. The bifurcation of Gulbarga and Belgaum were kept in abeyance following reservations expressed by local leaders on locating the new district headquarters.

Answering queries, he said the government had already earmarked Rs 72.58 crore for creating infrastructural facilities such as establishing new offices and purchase of vehicles for the purpose.

However, the new districts would be formed once the Central committee on delimitation gives its green signal. The Revenue department secretary had already written to the committee in this regard, he added.

With the formation of two new districts, Karnataka now has 29 districts.

He said the cabinet also approved the formation of new engineering colleges in Ramanagara, Huvinahadagali, Kushalanagara, Raichur and Haveri from this academic year. The government had earmarked Rs 60 crore for the purpose, he added.

UNI