Bhubaneswar, Feb. 10: The state government has received 18 proposals from 17 districts for setting up new revenue sub-divisions.

These proposals will be taken into consideration after receipt of grants from the 14th Finance Commission.

Parliamentary affairs minister Kalpataru Das said this in the Assembly on behalf of Revenue minister Surjya Narayan Patro.

Das said there was no plan to create new sub-divisions. If it does, the government would take into consideration geographical location, socio-economic status, pre-dominance of SC and ST communities and backwardness of the proposed areas. Besides, the recommendation of the district collector, revenue divisional commissioners and member of board of revenue would also be taken into account.

At present, the state has 58 revenue sub-divisions.

The demand for new sub-divisions has been growing since districts were reorganised in 1993 during the regime of Biju Patnaik.

Cutting across party lines, several legislators today demanded establishment of new sub-divisions in their respective areas.

“Our government has sincerity for creation of new sub-division. But it depends on financial resources,” he said.