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Gujarat’s Banaskantha to be Split; Vav-Tharad to be 34th District

Gujarat’s Banaskantha to be Split; Vav-Tharad to be 34th District

02-01-2025
  1. Gujarat government has decided to split Banaskantha district into 2 separate districts.
  2. A new district, Vav-Tharad, will be created, with its headquarters located at Tharad.
  3. The decision was made during the weekly state cabinet meeting, led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
  4. With this change, Gujarat will have a total of 34 districts.

Banaskantha district

5. Reason for the Split:

  1. Banaskantha is the largest district in Gujarat in terms of talukas (14 in total) and the second largest by area.
  2. The split is aimed at ensuring better public services and facilities for residents of the district, making it easier for them to access administrative resources.
  3. The new division will improve administrative efficiency and local governance.

6. Details of the Split:

  1. New District (Vav-Tharad):
    • Includes 8 talukas: Vav, Bhabhar, Tharad, Dhanera, Suigam, Lakhni, Diodar, and Kankrej.
    • The new district will also include 4 municipalities: Bhabhar, Tharad, Thara, and Dhanera.
    • Area: 6,257 sq km.
  2. Revised Banaskantha District:
    • Composed of 6 talukas: Palanpur, Danta, Amirgadh, Dantiwada, Vadgam, and Deesa.
    • Includes 2 municipalities: Palanpur and Deesa.
    • Area: 4,486 sq km.

7. Impact on Villages:

  1. The division will result in easier access for people living in villages on the new Vav-Tharad side of the district.
  2. Residents in these areas will no longer have to travel 35-85 km to reach the district headquarters, saving time and fuel.

8. Administrative Changes:

  1. The new Vav-Tharad district will receive increased funds and government grants for development.
  2. This is expected to lead to better infrastructure and improved human development services.

9. Electoral and Administrative Process:

  1. District panchayat elections will be postponed until the delimitation process is completed and administrative offices are set up for the new districts.

10. Minister’s Statement:

  1. Senior Minister Rushikesh Patel emphasized that this decision was made in the larger public interest to ensure ease of administration and better facilities for residents of Banaskantha district.

What are Districts?

  1. Districts are local administrative units in India, inherited from the British Raj.
  2. They form the tier of local government immediately below India’s states and territories.

  3. District Administration:

    1. A district is headed by a Deputy Commissioner (DC) or Collector.
    2. The DC/Collector is responsible for overall administration and law and order in the district.
    3. The Deputy Commissioner is typically an officer from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

  4. Sub-Divisions of Districts:

    1. Districts are often further divided into smaller administrative units, such as:
      • Tehsils or Talukas (in most regions).
      • Mandals (in some regions, especially in southern India).

How are New Districts Carved?

  1. Authority:

    1. The State governments have the power to create, alter, or abolish districts.
    2. This is typically done through either:
      • Executive orders (preferred by many states).
      • Passing a law in the State Assembly.

  2. Notification Process:

    1. Most states issue a notification in the official gazette to create a new district or change an existing one.

Why are New Districts Created?

  1. Improved Administration:

    1. Smaller districts are believed to lead to better governance and administration.
    2. By splitting larger districts into smaller ones, state governments aim to ensure more efficient delivery of services and quicker decision-making.

  2. Example:

    1. In 2016, the Assam government upgraded the Majuli sub-division to Majuli district for administrative expediency.

Does the Central Government Have a Role?

  1. Central Government's Role:

    1. The Central Government does not play a role in the creation or alteration of districts.
    2. States are free to make such decisions independently.

  2. Exception – Changing Names:

    1. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) gets involved if a state wants to change the name of a district or a railway station.

  3. Procedure for Name Change:

    1. The State government submits a request to the MHA.
    2. The request is then sent to other relevant departments like:
      • Ministry of Earth Sciences.
      • Intelligence Bureau.
      • Department of Posts.
      • Geographical Survey of India.
      • Railway Ministry.
    3. After reviewing feedback from these agencies, a no-objection certificate (NOC) may be issued.

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