Govt May Set Up Commission For Creation Of New Blocks, Says Odisha Minister

Bhubaneswar: In order to take the administration closer to the people, the Odisha government is contemplating to create more blocks by dividing the existing ones.

Revealing this to the media on Saturday, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari said the population of the state has gone up since the number of blocks was increased in 1984. There was a need to carve out more blocks from the present ones to enable the people have easier access to the administration, he added.

At present, there are 314 blocks in the state with the government creating 10 new blocks in 1984. “While the population of 314 blocks has increased substantially in the last 40 years, the number of blocks has remained same. This poses difficulty for the people to approach the administration to resolve their issues,” Pujari said.

The minister further said in many areas, the people have to cover long distance to go to the block office. Citing an example, he said the people of several villages under Tentuliguma panchayat in Koraput district has to travel 75 km to reach the block office at Baipariguda.

Stating that creation of new blocks was a tough task as it involved several legal issues, Pujari said a strong political will was needed for the purpose and the present government has already taken the initiative.

“I have held two rounds of discussion with the officials of the Panchayatiraj department in this regard. If necessary, the government will set up a commission for the purpose,” he added.

According to official sources, the state had 124 blocks in 1958 and the number went up to 214 in 1961. Subsequently, it reached the present figure of 314.