Dilawar replaces Bairwa as head of new dists panel

Jaipur: The state govt has appointed school education and panchayati raj minister Madan Dilawar as the convenor of the cabinet sub-committee formed to review the creation of 17 new districts and three divisions during the previous Congress regime.

Dilawar replaces Deputy CM Prem Chand Bairwa in the sub-committee, which was formed on June 12 with Bairwa as its head. The committee includes industries minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, PHED minister Kanhaiyalal Choudhary, revenue minister Hemant Meena, and water resources minister Suresh Singh Rawat as members.

Sources said the decision was made because the deputy CM hails from Dudu district, and if a decision is made to discontinue Dudu as a district, it could be seen as unfavourable to him. “Dudu is now one of the smallest districts in Rajasthan having only three tehsils. The committee has also recommended merging it back. Since it sends a wrong political message for Bairwa, the decision has been taken to replace him,” said a source.

This was the second review meeting this month after the expert committee, chaired by a former IAS officer, submitted its report on Aug 30. Examinations of the districts are being conducted based on various parameters, including administrative needs and financial burden on the state exchequer.

Speculation is rife that the number of new districts might be reduced by half following the sub-committee’s review. According to sources, the status of 12 newly established districts—Kotputli-Behror, Neemkathana, Khairthal Tijara, Kekri, Dudu, Anoopgarh, Sanchore, Deeg, Gangapur City, Salumber, Phalodi and Shahpur—are under scrutiny and could be revoked.

“The expert committee’s findings suggest several of these smaller districts may not meet the necessary administrative requirements or spatial criteria. As a minimum of Rs 2,000 crore is required to form a new district, the sub-committee is evaluating the administrative scope, functional efficiency, necessity, and financial viability of these new districts,” said an official.

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