‘What is deserved will be paid back with interest’: New district headquartered at Muvattupuzha under consideration, says CM

KOTTAYAM: Chief Minister V D Satheesan said the government is considering the formation of a new district with Muvattupuzha as its headquarters. He said this while inaugurating the Onam celebrations organized by the Muvattupuzha Municipality. The chief minister said the government would soon entrust a district reorganisation commission, and that the proposal for Muvattupuzha district would come under the limits of the commission.

The chief minister’s announcement was in response to the demands pointed by Muvattupuzha MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan, who highlighted the region’s long-standing development issues. Satheesan said the government would address the developmental backwardness and marginalisation faced by Muvattupuzha and would give back to the people of Muvattupuzha what they deserve, with interest.

The chief minister also said that although he would be slightly saddened to see Muvattupuzha separated from his home district of Ernakulam, the government was taking the demand very seriously. In 1982, the then chief minister K Karunakaran had announced the formation of a Muvattupuzha district, but the proposal never materialised.

There demand to divide Malappuram district based on its population is very strong. Parties including the Indian Union Muslim League had also expressed their support. Meanwhile, the chief minister himself has now clarified that the formation of a new district with Muvattupuzha as its headquarters is under consideration. No new districts have been created in Kerala since Kasaragod district was formed in 1984. Further steps are expected to be taken based on the study report of the newly constituted district reorganisation commission.