Andhra Pradesh Advances Plan to Divide Visakhapatnam Zilla Parishad into Three Separate Entities
In a significant administrative overhaul, efforts are intensifying to bifurcate the Combined Visakhapatnam Zilla Parishad (ZP) into three distinct bodies. This move aligns with the district reorganization carried out in April 2022, which created the new districts of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, and Alluri Sitarama Raju. While the districts were split nearly four years ago, the ZP has remained undivided until now, prompting this latest initiative to decentralize governance and enhance local administration.
Proposal Reaches State Government for Formal Approval
Revenue sources have confirmed that a detailed proposal for the division has reached the state government, marking a critical step in the process. Among the three districts, Anakapalli is the largest with 24 mandals, Alluri Sitarama Raju comprises 11 mandals, and Visakhapatnam is confined to just four mandals. This distribution reflects the varied geographical and demographic scales of the newly formed districts, necessitating tailored administrative frameworks.
It may be recalled that the NDA government in the state earlier removed the Rampachodavaram division from Alluri Sitarama Raju district to form a separate Polavaram district. Now, the bifurcation proposal has been formally forwarded from the Visakhapatnam Collectorate, accompanied by comprehensive plans to distribute assets mandal-wise. This ensures a systematic and equitable allocation of resources across the new entities.
Timeline Aligns with Upcoming Local Body Elections
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has already announced that local body elections will be held within six months, coinciding with the end of the current ZP's elected body's term in September. Panchayat Raj Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also confirmed that elections would be conducted based on the new district boundaries, emphasizing the government's commitment to democratic processes and administrative efficiency.
By the time elections are notified, the three new zilla parishads are expected to be fully operational and ready to assume their roles. The CEO of the combined Visakhapatnam ZP has completed the exercise of asset distribution, laying the groundwork for a smooth transition. Specifically, Anakapalli's ZP administration will function from the zilla parishad guest house, while employee strength assessments are actively underway for both Anakapalli and Alluri Sitarama Raju districts.
Employee Allocation and Financial Approvals in Progress
Senior officials have stated that the distribution of employees will be finalized once the finance department grants its approval. To ensure a seamless and fair allocation across the three new ZPs, opinions of staff are being collected through consultations and feedback mechanisms. This participatory approach aims to address concerns and optimize workforce deployment according to the specific needs of each district.
Authorities are working diligently to complete the entire bifurcation process before the election notification is issued, ensuring that the new administrative structures are in place to support effective governance and public service delivery. This proactive measure underscores the state's focus on enhancing local self-governance and aligning administrative boundaries with contemporary developmental requirements.
