Merger creates storm in Karimnagar

Karimnagar: The decision to include different mandals in the proposed Sircilla district is drawing flak from various quarters. Apparently, the rationale for creating this new district contradicts Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao desire that the headquarters should be located within 60 km from any place in the district.

According to a primary proposal of district authorities, two more districts are set to be carved out of Karimnagar district. The new districts are Jagtial and Sircilla.

The proposed Sircilla district will consist of Sircilla, Vemulawada, Choppandandi Assembly constituencies including 17 mandals. Ironically some of mandals are located around Karimnagar and Jagtial towns.

For instance, Ramadugu, Gangadhara and Choppadandi are situated closer to Karimnagar town than Sircilla. Residents of these places are reluctant to be part of the new district. So, they launched protests, opposing the move. Members of a Joint Action Committee, form-ed jointly by various political parties announced their rejection.

In the meantime, members of another JAC floated in Gangadhara mandal centre flayed district authorities for preparing a report suggesting Sircilla as a new district, comprising their region. They staged a rasta roko on Karimnagar-Jagtial highway, opposing the move.  “The present district headquarters is 20 km away. We will resist the decision,” they threatened.

Similarly, natives of Medipalli and Katha-lapur mandals are not interested to joining their place with Sircilla. Medipalli is barely 20 km away from Jagtial town. They demand the authorities to keep their mandal with Jagtial district.

Collector Neetu Prasad said that Sircilla would be created as a new district, as per directives of the CM.