By DeshGujarat News, Shri Somnath, 13 August 2012

Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi today declared a new district in Gujarat.

Speaking at Sagar Khedu sammelan in Somnath Shri Narendra Modi said there will be a new district ‘Gir Somnath’ consisting 6 talukas of existing Junagadh district.

“Our government has taken a decision to give you a new district, a new district of Gir Somnath, consisting six talukas,” Shri Modi said.

Amid repeated slogans of ‘Jay Somnath’ Shri Narendra Modi said a committee headed by Chief Secretary will be formed to take up this cause, and a new district will be in existence on 26 January next year.

Shri Modi said, “the government will come closer to you. Administration will be now at your doorstep. You will not have to travel to Junagadh for government works.”

Junagadh district has a population of about 31 lakh, of which nearly 19 lakh reside in these seven talukas with 611 villages. To strengthen coastal security, Somnath has already been accorded the status of a police district. For some time now, leaders from seven talukas of Veraval, Maliya, Talala, Mangrol, Sutarapada, Kodinar and Una had been demanding a separate district.

While Veraval-Somnath Nagarpalika had already passed a resolution in this regard and forwarded it to the state government, Veraval Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gir Gadhda Chamber of Commerce, Kodinar Chamber of Commerce and various groups like Brahm Samaj and Lohana Samaj had been aggressively lobbying for the same.