THANJAVUR: Decision to bifurcate districts, by and large, seem to be more politically motivated than other factors if history of some of them are considered.
Bifurcation and later trifurcation of Thanjavur district is an example though reasons told were administrative convenience, more development etc.
In 1989, when DMK came back to power in the state and the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. Kariunanidhi was toying with the idea of carving out Tiruvarur district, as Thirukuvalai is the village where he was born and Tiruvarur is where he studied in school.
Admirers of the leader and many DMK workers and people in the area have been demanding that a district should be formed around his native place. Even before he could implement this decision, DMK government was dismissed using article 356 in 1991 by the then Prime Minister Chandra Sekhar.
In the election that followed AIADMK came to power after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and J.Jayalalithaa became Chief Minister.
Jayalalithaa, a bête noire of Karunanidhi, made Nagapattinam a district instead of Tiruvarur in October 1991 dividing Thanjavur district into two. . Again when Karunanidhi became Chief Minister in 1996, he created Tiruvarur district carving out areas from both Thanjavur and Nagapattinam districts on January 1, 1997.
Now the demand for creation of Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai districts are growing. It is said that R. Duraikannu, state Agriculture minister who represents Papanasam Assembly constituency is keen to carve out the district. Before him late Ko. Si. Mani, former state minister (DMK), who hailed from Aduthurai near Kumbakonam was keen to create Kumbakonam district.
While formation of districts can be welcomed if they are geographically contiguous, need to bifurcate when a district is vast, creating districts for various other considerations make the exercise a mockery, say elders in Thanjavur district.
When Tiruvarur district was created, it was not geographically contiguous and was carved out annexing taluks in between. Opinions were expressed then that either it should have been formed including Nagapattinam, Vedaranyam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Muthupettai which is geographically contiguous. Or it should have been a district with Mayiladuthurai as headquarters annexing Sirkali, Tharangampadi, etc if it is to be geographically contiguous, said people.
“Districts should be created after thorough discussion with people keeping maps etc. One of the aspects of district formation is that district headquarters should be easily accessible. But in Nagapattinam district, Srikali is even now far away from Nagapattinam. Creation of districts for whims and fancies instead of for people’s welfare and true development should be avoided,” say informed people of Thanjavur.
