Odisha govt mulls creating more blocks and tehsils in state

Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Saturday hinted that the state government is most likely to take steps to increase the number of blocks and tehsils or divide and reorganize them to make the administration more people-centric.

Interacting with media persons, the minister highlighted that many blocks in the state have not been reorganized and neither have new ones been created for the last 50 years. As such, a reorganization into smaller administrative units will ultimately be essential for better governance, the Minister stated. 

Pujari also stated plans to have one Revenue Inspector (RI) assigned to oversee each panchayat instead of the current arrangement where over three to four panchayats come under the administrative purview of one RI.

“I think the time is right for discussions on block reorganization to take place. Respecting people’s demands for proper administration and to ensure effective distribution of government facilities and schemes, discussion on this regard will be taken forward,” said the minister.

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Meanwhile, he also emphasized the need to include one block under one tehsil. As of now, Odisha has 314 blocks and 317 tehsils with the administrative divisions divided into the Northern, Southern, and Central Divisions.

However, he clarified that the matter is currently under consideration and no concrete decisions have been taken by the government as of yet.

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“The government has not issued any directions for reorganizing tehsils just yet and this matter will be considered according to established regulations. The Revenue Department is conducting a thorough review, and if required a final call will be taken on this matter,” added the minister.

"A time has definitely come to reorganize the Panchayats. If the government is thinking on it, I will congratulate them. But it is to be done on the basis of distance, population and the cluster of villages,” opined Jagadananda, a social worker. 

Meanwhile, the Revenue Minister’s statement has brought cheer to the faces of villagers who have been complaining that their block office is far away from their villages.

“The residents of our area are travelling 20-25 kilometers to reach Khaira block. So, the number of blocks must increase,” said Banamali Panigrahi, a resident of Khaira block. 

On the other hand, Opposition BJD and Congress termed it as a false announcement. 

“The government is considering on increasing the number of blocks. It would be better if they translate their words into action,” said BJD MLA Prashant Muduli. 

Congress MLA Nilamadhab Hikaka said, “The decision is worth welcoming. But no census has been done, nor has any commission formed. They are saying this only to receive pat on back.”