AMARAVATI: The state government has decided to rename Konaseema district as Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district.
The government has issued a preliminary notification on Wednesday seeking public objections/suggestions.
The final notification will be issued after 30 days.
Dalit organisations had demanded naming of the district after Ambedkar prior to the reorganization of the districts. They held rallies during the bifurcation of the district. The government initially ignored the demands and went ahead to name it as Konaseema district.
The government realized the significance of naming the district after Ambedkar almost 45 days after the new district came into existence. Konaseema region, considered as backwaters of AP, has been carved out as a new district from the erstwhile East Godavari district.
Konaseema district was created for Amalapuram (SC-reserved) Lok Sabha constituency.
It has a considerable dalit population. Konaseema district is spread over 2,081 sq km with a population of nearly 17 lakh. It has two revenue divisions (Amalapuram and Ramachandrapuram) and 22 mandals. The district has three municipalities Ramachandrapuram, Amalapuram and Mandapet.
Transport minister Pinepi Viswaroop, who represents Amalapuram assembly constituency, thanked chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for taking the decision to rename the district as Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district.
“It is a fitting tribute to the architect of the Constitution,” said Viswaroop. Interestingly, the decision to rename the district was taken two days after the chief minister made a trip to Konaseema district.
