Parliament passes the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019

Parliament has passed the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019.

The Bill provides for the merger of Union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. It is aimed at providing better delivery of services to citizens of both the UTs by improving efficiency and reduction in paperwork and administrative expenditure. It will also bring uniformity in policy and schemes. Both the UTs are located in the western region of the country. Dadra and Nagar Haveli has just one district while Daman and Diu has two. 

Speaking on the bill, Minister of State for Home Affairs, G. Kishan Reddy said, it was the long-standing demand of the people of the region. He clarified that there won’t be any change in the linguistic policy after the merger.

Intervening in the discussion, Home Minister Amit Shah clarified that there is no requirement of a Constitutional Amendment for the merger of the Union



Territories.

Earlier, during the discussion,  Madhusudan Mistry of Congress said, it is believed that small units help in effective administration. He questioned how the merger of these two UTs will help in a better administration. Trichy Siva of the DMK demanded full statehood for the Puducherry Union Territory. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe of BJP and RCP Singh of JDU supported the bill. CPI member Binoy Viswam said increasing the size of a Union Territory will lead to statehood demand in future.

Sushil Kumar Gupta of the AAP said elected Governments are not able to function effectively in the Union Territories.

Amee Yajnik of Congress asked what would be the cost of improving the social indicators though the Government argues that the merger meets the requirement of minimum government and maximum governance.

Sasmit Patra of the BJD, KK Ragesh of the CPIM, and others also participated in the discussion.