Odisha Government Considers Creation of New Blocks

Bhubaneswar:  The Odisha government is exploring the possibility of creating new administrative blocks by dividing the existing 314 blocks across the state.

Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari revealed that discussions have been held with the Panchayati Raj Department on the matter. “I personally believe Odisha needs more blocks. I have had two rounds of discussions with the Panchayati Raj Department regarding this,” Pujari said.

The Minister also advocated for the formation of a commission to oversee the creation of new blocks. “If necessary, the state government should establish a commission to assess the division of existing blocks and the formation of new ones,” he added.

Odisha had 124 blocks in 1958, which increased to 214 by 1961. The current tally stands at 314, with the last addition of 10 new blocks made in 1984, according to official sources.

Data shows uneven distribution of gram panchayats across blocks. Some blocks, like Badachana in Jajpur district, manage 43 gram panchayats, while Bhograi (Balasore), Borigumma (Koraput), Dasmanthpur (Koraput), and Mohana (Gajapati) each have 39 gram panchayats. In contrast, smaller blocks manage between 15 to 20 gram panchayats.

The government is expected to continue consultations before making a final decision on the restructuring process.