<p>Karnataka is all set to get its 31st district as the Cabinet on Wednesday gave ‘in principle’ approval to carve out a new Vijayanagar district from Ballari. </p>.<p>The decision was taken during an informal discussion on the subject, Law Minister J C Madhuswamy said. </p>.<p>Forest Minister Anand Singh, who is also the minister in charge of Ballari, called it a “historic decision” and thanked Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa. “This demand was there for many years. Hampi was the capital of the Hindu empire and we want to upgrade it into a prestigious place,” Singh, who anchored the effort for the new Vijayanagar district, said. </p>.<p>“We don't want to hurt anyone. We want to do this by taking everyone into confidence,” he added. </p>.<p>The plan for a new Vijayanagar district was first officially mooted by Yediyurappa himself in September 2019 when Singh was a disqualified legislator. Singh had resigned from the Congress when the Congress-JD(S) coalition was in power, citing his demand for a new district fell on deaf ears. He went on to join the BJP. </p>.<p>After the plan created a rift, with some BJP legislators threatening to raise a banner of revolt if Ballari was split, Yediyurappa deferred a decision on this. </p>.<p>The mining district of Ballari is politically significant, comprising nine Assembly constituencies of which the Congress represents five and the BJP four. </p>.<p>Ballari has 11 taluks and splitting it will ease administration, it is argued.</p>.<p>According to the earlier plan, five taluks - Ballari, Kurugodu, Siraguppa, Sandur and Kudligi - will be part of Ballari district, while six other taluks - Hospet, Kampli, Hagaribommanahalli, Kottur, Hadagali and Harapanahalli - will constitute the new Vijayanagar district. </p>.<p>“We will share the final details after the next Cabinet meeting,” Madhuswamy said. </p>.<p>Social Welfare Minister B Sriramulu, a native of Ballari, had opposed the plan to create a new district. After the Cabinet meeting, however, he appeared to have come on board. “There was confusion about this. It’s a long-pending demand. We’ve decided informally thanks to all our efforts. The CM and the government will take the final decision,” he said. </p>.<p>Yadgir was the last district created in Karnataka when it was carved out of Kalaburagi in 2009.<br /> </p>
<p>Karnataka is all set to get its 31st district as the Cabinet on Wednesday gave ‘in principle’ approval to carve out a new Vijayanagar district from Ballari. </p>.<p>The decision was taken during an informal discussion on the subject, Law Minister J C Madhuswamy said. </p>.<p>Forest Minister Anand Singh, who is also the minister in charge of Ballari, called it a “historic decision” and thanked Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa. “This demand was there for many years. Hampi was the capital of the Hindu empire and we want to upgrade it into a prestigious place,” Singh, who anchored the effort for the new Vijayanagar district, said. </p>.<p>“We don't want to hurt anyone. We want to do this by taking everyone into confidence,” he added. </p>.<p>The plan for a new Vijayanagar district was first officially mooted by Yediyurappa himself in September 2019 when Singh was a disqualified legislator. Singh had resigned from the Congress when the Congress-JD(S) coalition was in power, citing his demand for a new district fell on deaf ears. He went on to join the BJP. </p>.<p>After the plan created a rift, with some BJP legislators threatening to raise a banner of revolt if Ballari was split, Yediyurappa deferred a decision on this. </p>.<p>The mining district of Ballari is politically significant, comprising nine Assembly constituencies of which the Congress represents five and the BJP four. </p>.<p>Ballari has 11 taluks and splitting it will ease administration, it is argued.</p>.<p>According to the earlier plan, five taluks - Ballari, Kurugodu, Siraguppa, Sandur and Kudligi - will be part of Ballari district, while six other taluks - Hospet, Kampli, Hagaribommanahalli, Kottur, Hadagali and Harapanahalli - will constitute the new Vijayanagar district. </p>.<p>“We will share the final details after the next Cabinet meeting,” Madhuswamy said. </p>.<p>Social Welfare Minister B Sriramulu, a native of Ballari, had opposed the plan to create a new district. After the Cabinet meeting, however, he appeared to have come on board. “There was confusion about this. It’s a long-pending demand. We’ve decided informally thanks to all our efforts. The CM and the government will take the final decision,” he said. </p>.<p>Yadgir was the last district created in Karnataka when it was carved out of Kalaburagi in 2009.<br /> </p>
