Fulfilling a longtime wish of large sections of people in Villupuram district, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday announced that a new district -- with Kallakurichi as its headquarters – will be created by bifurcating Villupuram. This move has been met with both positive and negative reactions. While minister C Ve Shanmugam and others welcomed it, some people from Villupuram opposed the decision citing distance between their place to Kallakuruchi that will be at least a two-hour journey.
Announcing the decision in the Assembly, the CM said that people from Kallakurichi currently travel at least 70 km to reach the district collectorate in Villupuram. "The move to carve out a separate district is aimed at benefitting Kallakurichi residents," he added. He also informed the House that an IAS officer would be appointed as Special Officer to complete the process involved in bifurcation/creation of the district.
Alaniswami said Law Minister Shanmugam, Ulundurpet MLA Kumaraguru and local residents had made a request for the creation of a new district. Meanwhile, Shanmugam said Villupuram, with 1,099 panchayats, was the biggest district in the State, and there was a need to bifurcate it to facilitate better administration. People of Kallakurichi area have also welcomed the decision by the government.
