Census 2011: Divide populous Thane into 2 districts

THANE: The announcement of Thane's population statistics on Thursday has intensified the debate here to split the Thane district into two so as to bridge the social and economic divide between the prosperous south and the neglected rural regions in the north. Plans are being hotly discussed by social activist and revenue officials to take a fresh look at the long-pending demand to carve out a new district comprising the adivasi pockets of Palghar, Dahanu, Vikramgadh, Talasari, Mokhada and Wada. One-third of the district's population resides in this area, which has suffered chronic underinvestment of public funds, combined with near-zero industrial progress and low agriculture productivity.

Plans are to have a district headquarters at Palghar, which will facilitate easy administration over the hilly and coastal terrain, which has a 25 lakh tribal population. "The population growth is centred around the metros of Thane, Kalyan-Dombvili, Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayander and Bhiwandi. All funds for... growth will once again be utilized in these prosperous towns. If a new district is created, it will help in easy administration and the tribal pockets can also demand greater funds from the Centre," said Omprakash Sharma, spokesperson of the BJP's Thane unit. The water flow from Tansa river, which originates at Shahapur, would be the natural boundary line for the two districts.