Kochi: With the Kerala government announcing that it will appoint a committee to study the formation of new districts and taluks, longstanding demands to carve out three new districts from Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram and Malappuram have regained momentum.

Decades-old demand for a Muvattupuzha district

The proposal for a Muvattupuzha district by bifurcating Ernakulam district has once again come to the fore. Kerala has not created a new district since Pathanamthitta and Kasaragod were formed in 1984. The demand for a Muvattupuzha-based district has existed for decades, with supporters arguing that it would address the developmental neglect of Ernakulam's eastern high-range region.

At present, Ernakulam district headquarters is located in Kochi on the western side of the district, making it difficult for people from the eastern hilly areas to access administrative services. The proposal suggests creating the new district by combining Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam taluks and parts of Kunnathunad taluk. It is learnt that Kuttampuzha panchayat in Kothamangalam taluk alone is nearly the size of Alappuzha district, making administration from a distant headquarters cumbersome.

Residents also complain that the agriculture-dominated eastern region of Ernakulam has not received adequate attention from district officials and successive collectors. Supporters believe a Muvattupuzha district would boost agriculture and tourism while helping the high-range region secure a fairer share of central government funds allocated district-wise.

However, political disagreements remain over the proposed boundaries. The PJ Joseph faction opposes the inclusion of Thodupuzha from Idukki district in the proposed Muvattupuzha district. The dispute, which dates back to the Mullaperiyar agitation, remains unresolved, with opponents arguing that losing Thodupuzha would diminish Idukki's significance.

Demand for Neyyattinkara District

There is also a longstanding demand to split Thiruvananthapuram district and create a Neyyattinkara district by combining Neyyattinkara and Kattakkada taluks.

Residents currently have to travel long distances to reach the Collectorate and other district offices at Kudappanakunnu. The population south of the Karamana River in Thiruvananthapuram district is estimated at around 11.5 lakhs, with nearly 10 lakh people living in Neyyattinkara and Kattakkada taluks alone.

Supporters argue that Neyyattinkara is among the regions with the state's lowest per-capita income, making a new district essential for balanced development. They also note that nearly 80% of the required infrastructure is already in place, including a district hospital, district court and district jail. Establishing a Collectorate and an RDO office would complete the administrative framework. A memorandum signed by around 50,000 people has already been submitted to the government.

Malappuram Division Back in Focus

The demand to divide Malappuram, Kerala's most populous district, has also resurfaced. With a population of nearly 47 lakh, Malappuram is the state's third-largest district by area. Advocates argue that government services and infrastructure have failed to keep pace with its rapid population growth.

The main proposal is to create a new district with Tirur as its headquarters. Former MLA K.N.A. Khader and others have argued in the Assembly that districts should be reorganised according to population to ensure balanced development.

Malappuram currently has the highest number of local self-government institutions and Assembly constituencies in the state, making administrative management increasingly difficult. When the district was created in 1969, its population stood at around 14 lakh; today it has more than tripled.

Former Tirur Sub-Collector Dileep Kainikkara had also recommended district reorganisation, describing it as an investment in better governance. Some proposals even suggest including densely populated border regions from Palakkad and Thrissur districts in the new administrative setup.

Supporters dismiss allegations and concerns surrounding district reorganisation as baseless, insisting that the issue should be viewed from the perspective of public development rather than political or sectional interests. The government-appointed commission is expected to examine the feasibility of the proposals in detail and submit its recommendations. Many hope the exercise will help reduce travel difficulties and improve administrative efficiency across these regions.