Demand for PV District resurfaces

Karimnagar/Warangal: KCR’s recent election promise of carving out two more new districts – Mulugu and Narayanpet - appears to have put into motion, the demand for the formation of Huzurabad district in the name of former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, who is fondly known as PV, has once again surfaced.

It may be recalled that an all-party delegation from Huzurabad and Husnabad constituencies met the High-Power Committee headed by K Kesava Rao (KK) in 2016 and urged him to consider the creation of a district named after PV, who hailed from the region. Even though the locals intensified protests for the formation of PV district, the government didn’t heed to the demand.

Against this backdrop, the TRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao, during the electioneering in recent elections to the Assembly promised to carve out two new districts with Mulugu and Narayanpet as their headquarters.

After winning the elections and becoming Chief Minister for the second consecutive time, KCR reportedly directed the administration to look upon the modalities to carve out two new districts in addition to creation of a few more mandals.

Sensing a ray of hope, people in several mandals especially Huzurabad, Jammikunta and Veenavanka have launched protests demanding PV district.

Earlier in 2016, the PV Zilla Sadhana Committee leaders demanded PV district with 11 mandals – Huzurabad, Jammikunta, Veenavanka, Shankarapatnam, Saidapur, Chiguru Mamidi, Kamalapur, Bheemadevarapally, Elkaturthy, Husnabad and Koheda. However, Kamalapur, Bheemadevarapally and Elkaturthy mandals have been included in the Warangal Urban district. Husnabad and Koheda mandals have become part of Siddipet district.

The locals say that carving out a new district in the name of PV Narasimha Rao who hailed from Vangara village under Bheemadevarapally mandal is a fitting tribute to him.

Speaking to The Hans India, Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) Karimnagar District President Mukkera Raju said: “The reorganisation of districts that took place in 2016 was unscientific. Even though the creation of PV district was feasible during the reorganisation of districts, the government didn’t pay attention to the demand.

Then Lok Sabha member B Vinod Kumar assured of looking into the demand of PV district if there was any opportunity in the future.” Further, he accused Huzurabad MLA Eatala Rajender and Husnabad MLA V Sathish Kumar for not working together to take forward the demand for PV district during the reorganisation of districts in 2016.

Now the time has come for the government to carve out PV district with five mandals – Huzurabad, Veenavanka, Jammikunta, Kamalapur and Ellanthakunta – of Huzurabad constituency and seven mandals – Husnabad, Elkaturthy, Bheemadevarapally, Saidapur, Koheda, Bejjanki and Akkannapet - of Husnabad constituency. This apart there is a long-pending demand for Vavilala mandal. Together, all these mandals have a population of over 6 lakh, he said.

T-JAC Huzurabad chairman Avunuri Sammaiah said: “The demand for PV district is still alive since the reorganisation of districts. The people’s representatives of the region failed to promote the demand and now it’s time for them to make it happen. If there is any numerological sentiment to see that number of districts should not exceed 33, it can also be overcome by merging Warangal Urban and Rural districts.”

Moreover, the people in Kamalapur, Elkaturthy and Bheemadevarapally mandals (presently in Warangal Urban) are still sentimentally attached to Huzurabad region, he said. The government can also erase the blame of splitting historically significant Warangal district, he said.

Meanwhile, members of the Huzurabad Bar Association submitted a memorandum to the RDO for the formation of PV district with Huzurabad as its headquarters. They contended that Huzurabad has all the facilities and infrastructure to be a district headquarters.