More districts in Telangana, but shortage of IAS and IPS officers

Hyderabad: Increasing the number of districts in the state to 24-25 from the existing 10 by August 15 or Dasara, as announced by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday, would further add to the shortage of IAS and IPS officers in the state.

The state government needs to appoint two IAS officers for each district (as collector and joint-collector) and two IPS officers (as superintendent and assistant superintendent of police).

The state is already grappling with severe shortage of IAS and IPS officers, with each holding three posts on an average. Besides, the new districts will also impose a huge financial burden on the government, which will have to construct collectorate and district headquarter offices and residential accommodation for the officials.

Mr Chandrasekhar Rao met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi in February this year and sought an increase in the IAS officers’ strength from the present 163 to 193 and IPS officers’ strength from the present 112 to 141. After bifurcation, TS was allotted 163 IAS posts, 112 IPS posts and 65 IFS posts.

While the existing posts itself were insufficient, another 20 IAS officers are on Central deputation, making it more difficult for government to run the administration.

The setting up of 15 new districts would mean an additional requirement of 30 IAS and 30 IPS officers.

Meanwhile, the Centre has given indications that it would not be possible to allot as many number of IAS and IPS officers in a single go since all other states in the country were also facing a severe shortage and vacancies can only be filled in phases.

With this, the state government is planning to give additional charge of new districts to existing collectors, JCs, SPs and ASPs, till the Centre allots new ones.

However, officials say it would not be possible for one IAS and IPS officer to work in two districts as each district has its own meetings and issues, which they need to attend to on a daily basis.

Mr Chandrasekhar Rao said the government will announce new districts on the occasion of second anniversary of Telangana formation on June 2 and will come into force either from August 15 or Dasara this year.

The Chief Minister asked officials to make necessary arrangements to build new collectorates, offices for the superintendents of police, meeting halls and other district head offices in all districts besides residential accommodation for top officials.