Govt receives demand for creation of 10 new states

New Delhi: The Centre has received demands for creation of at least 10 new states, including a separate Mithilanchal in Bihar, Saurashtra in Gujarat and Coorg in Karnataka.

A senior Home Ministry official said the demands were mostly received from organisations like Telengana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and some other organisations and individuals.

The most vocal organisation, the TRS, had placed its demand for creation of Telengana state, which comprised of Telengana region in Andhra Pradesh a few years back, while the GJM has been putting pressure to carve out Gorkhaland state out of Darjeeling and its adjoining areas in West Bengal.

The demand for creation of Bundelkhand state, comprising districts like Banda, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Sagar of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have been pending for long with the Ministry, the official said.

Though no state government has given any recommendation, which is mandatory for carving out a new state, the demands continue to pour in, he added.

A demand for creation of Bhojpur state comprising areas of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Chhattisgarh has also been received by the Ministry.

Another demand for creation of a new state comprising Saurastha region of Gujarat, one of the most prosperous states, has also been pending with the Ministry for several years now.

The Centre has also received representations for creation of Harit Pradesh or Kisan Pradesh consisting several districts of Western Uttar Pradesh, the official said.

The Home Ministry has also received demands for creation of Mithilanchal or Mithila state comprising territories in Bihar, a new Greater Cooch Behar state out of parts of West Bengal and Assam, a Vidarbha state in Maharashtra and a state for the Coorg region of Karnataka.

However, no decision has been taken by the Home Ministry in any of the representation for creation of a new state.

"Government takes decision on the matter of formation of new states after taking into consideration all relevant factors. Action by the government would depend on the felt need and general consideration," the official said.