New sub-divisions facing uncertain fate

GUWAHATI, April 2: At the fag-end of its 15-year-rule the Congress Government at Dispur declared as many as 24 new sub-divisions in the State. The fates of the 24 new sub-divisions have been left in the lurch with the party leading the government defeated in the Assembly polls in 2016. 

This came to light when State Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, on behalf of General Administration Department (GAD) Minister Sarbanda Sonowal, was replying to a query from AGP MLA Pabindra Deka in the Assembly on Monday. 

In his reply, Patowary said: “It was on February 26, 2016 the Congress Government at Dispur declared 24 new subdivisions. This government has formed a Cabinet sub-committee with Fince Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as its chairman to look into the matter of the 24 new sub-divisions in the State. Other members of the Cabinet sub-committee are Keshab Mahanta and Rihon Daimary. The committee has already held a meeting on this issue. Now information is being collected from the districts.”

This essentially means that the fates of the 24 new sub-divisions depend on the Cabinet sub-committee. The Cabinet sub-committee may seal the fates of some of the new sub-divisions if it does not find them feasible. 

The 24 new sub-divisions declared by the erstwhile Congress government are Kalgachia, Katigorah, Ramkrish gar, Patharkandi, Tihu, Dhekiajuli, Bihpuria-yanpur, Mukalmua, Katlichera, Sorbhog, Manikpur, harkotiya, Howraghat, Diyungbra, South Kamrup, Moran, Merapani, Sorukhetri, Sopur, Dispur, Guwahati, Azara, Chandrapur and Lakhipur (Goalpara). Is the new dispensation at Dispur going to seal the fates of some of the 24 new sub-divisions? One has to wait and watch.