Kochi, August 23
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has assured residents of Muvattupuzha that the State government will seriously examine the long-standing demand to create a new district with the town as its headquarters.
Satheesan made the announcement while inaugurating the Onam celebrations organised by the Muvattupuzha municipality.
The Chief Minister said the proposal had initially caused him some concern since the formation of a separate district would involve carving Muvattupuzha out of Ernakulam, his home district. However, he stressed that personal considerations would not influence the government’s decision.
Satheesan said the government planned to constitute a delimitation commission to study proposals for the reorganisation of districts. The demand for a Muvattupuzha district would be examined seriously as part of that exercise, he added.
Earlier, Muvattupuzha MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan drew attention to the constituency’s long-standing grievances and alleged neglect. He said the region had been marginalised for years and claimed that several development initiatives had previously been blocked because of political vendetta.
Responding to the MLA, Satheesan promised that the government would address the difficulties faced by Muvattupuzha and ensure that the region received its rightful share of development.
Using a financial analogy, the Chief Minister said people who suffered losses naturally expected to recover the amount along with interest. In the same manner, he said, Muvattupuzha would be compensated “with interest” through development projects and improved administrative attention.
Demands for reorganising Kerala’s districts have gathered momentum in recent years, with proposals to divide the larger districts of Malappuram, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram.
Supporters argue that creating three additional districts would improve administrative efficiency, make government services more accessible and promote balanced regional development. If accepted, the proposals would increase Kerala’s number of districts from 14 to 17.
The proposed commission is expected to assess geographical, demographic and administrative factors before submitting its recommendations.
