Four Assam districts merged, CM apologises to the people for the ‘compulsory administrative decision’

In a major decision, the Assam Cabinet on Saturday decided to merge four districts of the state ahead of the delimitation process announced by the Election Commission of India. The merged districts are Biswanath merged with Sonitpur, Tamulpur merged with Baksa, Hojai merged with Nagaon, and Bajali has been merged with Barpeta. The police would continue to operate as before. The DCs of the merged districts would function as SDOs-in-Charge for now, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa said addressing a press conference in New Delhi after the urgent Cabinet meeting.

Asked if the merger of the districts could have been avoided, the CM said that certain stern decisions need to be irrespective whether one likes it or not and this is a decision that has been taken for the welfare of the people and the state of Assam.

“The merger decision was not an easy one for us to take. I have recently visited these districts. There are some decisions you have to take even if you do not like. This decision has been taken keeping in mind the welfare, betterment and development of the merged districts and the larger good of Assam. This was an administrative compulsion,” the CM said adding that the government would ensure that the public do not face any inconvenience because of the merger.

The CM apologised to the people of the merged districts and said that this should be a temporary one, the districts should be revived again.

The merger of the districts has been done ahead of the delimitation process that would begin from tomorrow in Assam. The process would be done by the Election Commission and should be completed in 6-8 months, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in 2024, the CM hoped.

The CM said that because of the Election Commission’s delimitation process, there is a ban on transfer of officials till January 5 therefore, the Cabinet took the merger decision today as it would involve change of certain officials.