Khammam: The creation of new districts in Telangana has caused differences between public representatives in the respective districts. The state government in principle agreed to create 14 new districts in the state. Khammam district will be made into two. A new district is planned with Bhadrachalam or Kothagudem as its district headquarters.
There is allegedly a difference of opinion between minister for roads and buildings Tummala Nageswara Rao and Kothagudem MLA Jalagam Venkat Rao over Sattupalli Assembly segment in forming the new district. As per initial plan of the government, the Assembly segments like Khammam, Palair, Wyra, Madhira and Sattupalli will be in Khammam district.
The remaining segments including Yellandu, Bhadrachalam, Pinapaka,Aswaraopet and Kothagudem will be in the proposed new district with Bhadrachalam as its district headquarters. But, TRS MLA Jalagam Venkat Rao wants to keep Sattupalli in the new district and make Kothagudem as district headquarters instead of Bhadrachalam. The followers of Jalagam are in favour of retaining Yellandu Assembly segment in Khammam district and include Sattupalli in the new district. Yellandu MLA Koram Kanakaiah sought to keep his constituency in Khammam district only.
An official said, “Sattupalli should be retained in Khammam district keeping the administrative convenience. Yellandu, which predominantly has Adivasis, should be in the new district.”
The proposed new district, if it can be planned with five Assembly segments including Yellandu, will be made as an industrial hub. There are already mega industries and units like SCCL, Nava Bharat Ferro Alloys, NMDC’s sponge iron company, ITC-Bhadrachalam Paper Boards Limited, Department of Atomic Energy, Bharat Heavy Water Plant and Kothagudem Thermal Power Station. Apart from it, Bhadradri Power Plant with a capacity of 1,080 MW is coming up in Manuguru and there is a proposal to set up a steel plant in Bayyaram.
Khammam district after the division will be popular as agriculture and agri-based units with the NSP ayacut area and extensive horticulture crops.
