Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday announced that Mauganj, a tehsil of Rewa district, would be the 53rd district of the state.

"Mauganj will become the 53rd district of MP. It will be developed by joining four tehsils of Rewa district," Chouhan announced while addressing a programme in Rewa.

"Naigarhi, Mauganj, Hanumana and Dev Talab will be merged to make Mauganj a district of Madhya Pradesh," he added. Residents of Mauganj were raising the demand for a separate district for a long time.

Furthermore, the CM laid the foundation stone for numerous construction projects to be carried out in the newly formed district announcing Rs 784 crore for the same. Additionally, he also announced that the national flag will be hoisted at the district headquarters on August 15.

"Process of making Mauganj a district will start today and the flag will be hoisted at the district headquarters on August 15," he said. 

Journalist Jay Ram Shukla, however, criticised the move saying it was purely a political decision as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won this seat (Mauganj) in the last elections.

“The Mauganj area is not rich in any minerals so physical feature wise it doesn’t need to be declared as a separate district,” Shukla said, adding the BJP is trying to strengthen their position in the Vindhya region through this new district.

Image courtesy: ANI