Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced that Hoshangabad city in the state would be renamed as Narmadapuram and a proposal to that effect would be sent to the Centre, NDTV reported.
The city was named after Muslim ruler Hoshang Shah. the first ruler of Malwa.
He was also called Hushang Shah Gori, and was known as Alp Khan before he took on the title Hoshang Shah after being crowned the ruler of Malwa.
On Friday, Chouhan made the announcement during the Narmada Jayanti programme held in Hoshangabad.
While addressing a gathering on the banks of Narmada, Chouhan asked whether the government should change the name of Hoshangabad, to which the people present there replied in the affirmative.
“What should be the new name?” Mr Chouhan asked, and the people replied, “Narmadapuram!”
The Chief Minister then said, “We are now sending a proposal to the Centre to change the name of Hoshangabad as Narmadapuram.”
The state government will not allow “cement-concrete structures” to be built along the Narmada river, he said, adding that sewage treatment plants are also being constructed in the cities located on its banks.
Meanwhile, BJP workers, led by Pro-tem Assembly Speaker Rameshwar Sharma, expressed happiness over Chouhan’s announcement and burst firecrackers on Saturday morning.
