Bhopal | Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the formation of a new district – Mauganj - in the State during a programme organised at Mauganj in Rewa. He said the new district would be formed by combining the four tehsils of Mauganj, Hanumana, Nai Garhi and Deotalab.

During a programme, Chouhan distributed ex-gratia assistance of Rs 605 crore to 27,310 labour families through a single click under 'Sambal Yojana 2.0'. He also inaugurated the development works and performed bhumi pujan.

With this the State would now have 53 districts. He said 382 villages of Naigarhi tehsil, 341 of Mauganj tehsil, 343 of Hanumana and Dev Talab would be added to the Mauganj.

Waving the paper from the stage, Chouhan said, “I have also brought the map, I have come with full preparation, just as they prepare before the exam. The process of this new district will start from today and on August 15, the national flag will be hoisted here.”

However, Vindhya region political expert Jay Ram Shukla criticised the move saying, “The Mauganj area is not rich in any minerals, and so physical feature-wise it doesn’t need to be declared a separate district. BJP is trying to strengthen its position in the region through this new district.”