Home ministry sought clarifications from Mayawati government

NEW DELHI: Lobbing the Uttar Pradesh division ball back into chief minister Mayawati’s court, the home ministry on Monday sought clarifications from the state government regarding the political and administrative contours of the four states proposed to be carved out of Uttar Pradesh.

Reverting the one-line resolution adopted by UP assembly last month to the state government, the ministry submitted a set of queries to understand the shape of the four proposed states of Awadh Pradesh, Bundelkhand, Poorvanchal and Pashchim Pradesh. “We have asked the UP government 8-9 point information on their proposal of division of state into four parts,” home secretary RK Singh was quoted as saying.

The ministry sought to know the proposed physical boundaries of the new states; what their Capitals would be; how the existing civil service cadre of UP would be divided among the four states; and how the new states would share the present debt burden of their parent state.

Other queries put up before the UP government relate to revenue-sharing arrangement for the proposed states and if any economic feasibility study was done before recommending the division. “What is the basis for suggesting such a division.

What is the area, district population division being suggested,” the MHA has reportedly asked. Last month, Mayawati government’s resolution to divide Uttar Pradesh into four parts was passed by the state assembly.