Balanagar Fails to Qualify for Municipal Status
The proposal to upgrade Balanagar mandal to a municipality has been rejected due to insufficient population density. According to government guidelines, a minimum density of 1,000 people per square kilometer is required to form a municipality. However, the current population density in Balanagar and surrounding villages is only 278 people per square kilometer.
Earlier, Jadcherla MLA Janampally Anirudh Reddy had submitted a proposal to the Chief Minister, suggesting that Balanagar be upgraded by merging nearby villages such as Nandaram, Gundedd, Gouthapur, and Peddayapalli. The Chief Minister directed officials to conduct a feasibility study to examine the proposal.
The study found that the proposed municipality would cover an area of 30.45 square kilometers. To meet the population density requirement, the area would need to have at least 30,000 residents. However, the total population of Balanagar and the surrounding villages is only 8,472, which is far below the required number.
Officials also pointed out that Balanagar’s status as a non-taluka headquarters disqualifies it from being considered for municipal status. This is another critical factor that worked against the proposal.
Reacting to the decision, MLA Anirudh Reddy said, “I have done my best to push for Balanagar’s transformation into a municipality, as it would have accelerated the area’s development. However, the proposal was turned down due to technical limitations and insufficient population density.”
Officials emphasized that adhering to established guidelines is essential when forming new municipalities. For now, Balanagar’s chances of gaining municipal status remain uncertain.
