The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday approved the renaming of Ramangara, the home district of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivalkumar, as Bengaluru South.
Ramanagara, about 50 km from Bengaluru, will remain as the district headquarters, Shivakumar told reporters. The district will also consist of Magadi, Kanakapura, Channapatna and Harohalli taluks.
"We have checked the rules, regulations and acts and amendments. Ramanagara was originally a Bengaluru district, today in the cabinet it was decided to name it as the Bengaluru South district. Order regarding this will be issued. This is happy news for the Bengaluru South district," Shivakumar said.
He said though all land records will be changed, there will be no financial implication from this decision. “I'm also here-on from the Bengaluru South district" he added.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil said though the cabinet in July last year had taken a similar decision to rename Ramanagara district as 'Bengaluru South', the Union home ministry had not given the NOC.
“In view of this the subject came up before the cabinet today and the cabinet discussed it in detail. We have seen the legal position also, and finally decided to rename,” he said.
Shivakumar, however, said Centre’s approval was not necessary to rename districts. "Informing the Centre was mandatory, that's all. There was some politics and some attempts were made (to oppose), but it is our right, it is a state subject," he said.
