Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on Friday announced 19 new districts and 3 new divisions in the state and said the decision has been taken keeping in mind the demands of the people.

The Gehlot administration has earmarked Rs. 2,000 crores for  the development of infrastructure for them, the news agency PTI reported.

This is the first time since 2008 that new districts are being carved out, taking the number of districts to 50. Gehlot made the announcement in the Rajasthan Assembly, which also passed the 2023-24 Budget with a voice vote.

Notably, the last new district in Rajasthan was created 15 years ago by then CM Vasundhara Raje when she made Pratapgarh a district.

"The state will now have 19 new districts,” the CM said during a discussion on the Budget. The three new divisions will be in Banswara, Pali and Sikar, he said.

The new districts are Anoopgarh, which was part of Ganganagar; Balotra (Barmer); Beawar (Ajmer); Kekri (Ajmer); Deeg (Bharatpur); Deedwana-Kuchaman (Nagaur); Dudu (Jaipur); Gangapur City (Sawai Madhopur); Jaipur North; Jaipur South; Jodhpur East; Jodhpur West; Kotputli-Behror (Jaipur-Alwar); Khertal (Alwar); Neem ka Thana (Sikar); Phalodi (Jodhpur); Salumber (Udaipur); Sanchore (Jalore); and Shahpura (Bhilwara).

Vasundhara Raje said the new announcements of the Congress government are just an attempt to fulfill their personal political interests for which the entire economic system of Rajasthan will be at stake.

"The CM extended the tenure of the Lubhaya Committee and stated that there was a delay in receiving its report. It is hard to understand how the 19 districts have now been announced without receiving the report," deputy leader of the opposition Rajendra Rathore said.

Image courtesy: The Indian Express