What should be done to achieve such an aim?

Call on the States Reorganization Commission (SRC), with clear and specific objectives such as;

• Determine the ideal size of the State as an administrative unit in terms of Population and Area and representation at the National level / Parliament.
• Keeping in mind the Geographic conditions and Economic resources, arrive at practical and rational boundaries keeping the size (population and area) as close to the ideal as possible. This should be explained to the people and they should be clearly told that the aim is to find the BEST PRACTICAL solution and not keep arguing for an unattainable IDEAL. As in any case the IDEAL is viewed differently by different people.
• Clearly specify procedures and principles to deal with and arbitrate on, any conflicts. (Water and other resources etc.). It should be made very clear that no further divisions will ever be considered and they can only have recourse to finding accommodation within the laid down rules.
• Determine the needs of major population centres,(Metros with over one or even two Crore population), and how they should be treated, – as special Union Territories, or Mini States like Delhi. (See “Urbanization – planning for the inevitable”).

All this may take 1 or 2 years, but if it has to be done at all, it should be done systematically, comprehensively and properly and not on a ‘piece meal’ basis as ‘knee jerk’ reaction to the vocal and disruptive calls of chauvinistic and opportunistic ’so called’ Leaders as was done for Telangana. Bi-partisan procedures involving all Parties should be the methodology.

A very preliminary suggestion for the ideal State is given below, as a place to start – off from. This takes the existing Districts as practical units. If deemed necessary this can instead be done at the Mandal / Tehsil level.

545 MP’s representing 593 districts and a population of 135 Crores in 28 States and 9 Union Territories. If each State should have at least 20 MP’s then we end up with each State having an average population of 4.0 Crores (varying from 2.0 to 6.0 Crores). This should be final, and calls to add greater representation for increasing population should be denied.

Why 20, why not 10 or 30 MPs? Our experience of 75 plus years has made it evident that our present system on the whole works well, it needs only to be tweaked and balanced. Also, it is seen that best decisions are taken quickly by groups of not more than about 10 persons, which is expected to be the approximate strength of any ruling Party MP’s in any State even with multi Party elections. Similarly, for a cabinet formed from the MLAs.

The problem of demands for Statehood also, brings up the question of the major urban centres in the State, generally the State Capital, which is contentiously perceived by the other regions / towns with in the State, and as having disproportionately received most of the benefits of development and thus demand for it to be included in each of the proposed new States. This was illustrated in the demand for Telangana and the fight over Hyderabad.

Such major Urban Centres /Mega Cities are bullied and run by State Governments and Rural vote dependent Politicians who see more votes in playing on the alleged India-Bharat divide, more so in the case of Mega Cities which also, happen to be State Capitals. Only Delhi has some say in its own Management.

Why not all Megacities? The State capitals, where are now in such Megacities, should be shifted out (eg: Gandhi Nagar in Gujarat) to enable the city to function without undue political interference. Why should the fate of a Megacity, with its large and dense cosmopolitan population, be left to the decisions of those who don’t even live in it? (The non Megacity voters).

Such a problem could be best addressed by perhaps requiring each of the Metros, with a population of over one or two Crore, being declared as a new type of ‘Union Territory’ or special type of small State (eg: Delhi), but with the elected Mayor being in effect the Chief Minister and its Corporators being in effect MLAs. Each such ‘Metro – UT or State’ could have 6-10 MP’s elected to the Lok Sabha and perhaps 2 MP’s nominated to the Rajya Sabha. The difference from a Union Territory will be that such Metros will be responsible for their own Governance and be only guided, not controlled, by the Central Government. Very small States such as Sikkim and Goa may also, be treated as such ‘Metro UT Regions or States’.

Each of the Metros have a very cosmopolitan population demographic with generally about 40 percent if not more, from other distant parts of the Country. It is also, observed that when a City crosses the population of a Crore it reaches an internally supportive consumption level for many Services and Trades and that its needs differ drastically from those of its Semi-Urban / Rural surroundings. The Metros relationship with its surrounding areas would then be based on realistic economics, offering facilities and concentrated markets in exchange for resources (Labour, Water, Power, Goods etc).

Each Metro should be surrounded by a green belt, an outer ring road and suitably sited Industrial / Commercial Zones, with a green belt on the other side too, all connected by Service roads. Very soon smaller Sub-Urban Centres would develop on the other side of the Outer green belt to get the best of different life styles and of proximity to work places as well as to Cosmopolitan Cultural, Educational and Health Facilities. The Greater Hyderabad Zone duly enlarged to incorporate Airport and nearby areas with designation of ‘Green belts’ and Industrial and Commercial Zones as mentioned above could be an ideal example. (See- “Urbanization-Planning for the inevitable”).

Hence, the proposal to treat each such Metro as a new type of ‘Union Territory or State’, in which chauvinistic and divisive calls will have no place and the advantages and benefits of being Cosmopolitan are duly recognized.

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