Assam: Number of Districts Decreased to 31 From Existing 35

NEW DELHI: Himanta Biswa Sarma announces the cancellation of the district status of Tamulpur, Hojai, Biswanath and Bajali of Assam on December 31, 2022, Saturday. This decision comes on the eve of new year's day before the restrictions by the Election Commission of India come to play from January 1, 2023.

The state of Assam is looking into the delimitation of the existing constituencies in the state. To that end, the Election Commission has issued an order preventing any changes to any existing administrative units across the state. So the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Assam Cabinet had decided to take all the necessary changes today itself.

Changes have been made to a total of 14 districts of the 35 existing districts of the state. Most of the changes are regarding the transfer of smaller administrative units between neighbouring districts of the state. For example, North Guwahati will now come under the administration of the Kamrup Metropolitan district instead of the Kamrup district since the new bridge will bring both places much closer than before and it will be easier to handle the administration from one office.

But the most important decision taken in the cabinet meeting is the removal of the district status of 4 of the new districts. Tamulpur will come under the Baksa district, Biswanath will come under Sonitpur, Hokai under Nagaon and Bajali under the Barpeta district of Assam. The Assam CM announced that this is a temporary decision and remain in force till the delimitation process is over.

He mentioned that these decisions have been taken after considering the reports of the DCs of several districts of the state and requested the public to support the decision of the state administration as they are aimed at development. He added that he was sad to take this decision, but it is only a temporary measure.

The CM also announced that the work will continue on the projects that had been declared recently in these districts. Also, the police and judicial units of these regions will continue to work as it is now. No changes will be done to any departmental office that has been set up in these four districts according to Himanta Biswa Sarma. A senior ADC-level official will be posted in the place of existing DCs so that the people of these districts do not need to travel far to get their work done.

In reply to a question, he mentioned that this transitional phase will continue till the delimitation process is over, which he expects to be around 6 to 7 months.

Also Read: Limitations of delimitation exercise

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