రాష్ట్ర విభజన వలన తలెత్తే సమస్యలు, వాతి పరిష్కారాల గూర్చి కేంద్ర మంత్రుల బృందానికి వారు ఇచ్చిన టరంస్ ఆఫ్ రిఫరెన్స్ ప్రకారం అందజ్*ఏసిన నా నివేదిక.
To
The Group of Ministers,
Govt of India.
Sub: Regarding the issues arising due to
the division of states and solutions
Dear Sir,
Thanks for giving us this opportunity to
share our feedback with the esteemed Group of Ministers.
The decision to divide the state of AP
albeit delayed is a correct decision, without which justice is impossible to
people of Telangana. In the united state of Andhra Pradesh people of Telangana
are marginalised by the majority Seemandhra and were denied their basic rights.
Over decades injustice was done to people of Telangana in irrigation, Govt
funds allocation, state appointed jobs among many others. Only a separate statehood can give justice to people of Telangana. As this is not appropriate forum to
list the injustices happened to Telangana and justifications for division of
state, I am not going into this part and limit my feedback only on the issues
that may arise in the process of division.
My feedback about the terms of reference
as given by GoM:
1. Determine the boundaries of the new state of Telangana and
the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh with reference to the electoral
constituencies, judicial and statutory bodies, and other administrative units:
The current ten districts of Telangana namely Hyderabad,
Ranga Reddy, Nalgonda, Medak, Mahaboob Nagar, Warangal, Khammam, Karim Nagar,
Nizamabad, Adilabad should be wholly with Telangana state. All the parliament
and Assembly constituencies in these ten districts will then be part of
Telangana state.
Rest of the 14 districs of Seemandhra region should be part
of residuary Andhra Pradesh state.
Some may argue that Bhadrachalam revinue division in the district of Khammam
which was previously part of Andhra state before the merger of Andhra state
with Telangana should be given back to Andhra. However the people in
Bhdrachalam are culturally closer to Telangana region and they wish to be part
of Telangana state post division. People of ten districts of Telangana also
wish that Bhadrachalam revinue division should be with Telangana. As there is
consent among people of both sides it is appropriate to make Bhadrachalam part
of Telangana state.
Also historically Bhadrachalam was with Nizam state for long
time and ceded to British Govt much later than the districts of Seemandhra.
2.
Look into the legal and
administrative measures required to ensure that both the state governments can
function efficiently from Hyderabad as the common capital for 10 years
In these days with advanced systems we do not need 10 years
for building a new capital. Hyderabad as combined capital for such long time
can make unnecessary friction between both states post division. Also residuary
Andhra Pradesh state functioning can be impaired when their administration is
happening away from their main land.
Residuary Andhra Pradesh state should be given grant for
constructing necessary buildings such as secretariat, Assembly, High Court,
quarters for state ministers, quarters for legislators etc. in their chosen
city. Two to three years are sufficient for constructing all the necessary
infrastructure.
Common capital period should be reduced to five years from 10
years. This five years time period is important and mainly required for the
employees belonging to residuary Andhra Pradesh state to make up their mind
whether to move to the new capital or take retirement and remain in Hyderabad
city rather than for constructing capital city.
In the period of common capital, the right on administration of
Hyderabad should naturally be with Telangana state. However a small area of the
city that holds the administrative buildings of residuary Andhra Pradesh state
post division can be identified and its administration limited to law and order
only can be kept with Union Govt. However this area should be within the
boundaries of MCH (not the current GHMC) and be restricted to below 80 square
kilometres. This measure is required for the efficient functioning two state
Governments from the same city with Hyderabad as common capital.
3.
Take into account the
legal, financial and administrative measures that may be required for
transition to a new capital of the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh
As suggested in the earlier point a small portion of
Hyderabad within MCH limits can be identified and its law and order administration
should be kept with Govt. of India. Legal rights on the same region should be
with Telangana state.
As income from state departments is accounted at capital city
currently the income of Hyderabad appears much higher than its actual share.
However post division income of both states will be accounted separately and
then Hyderabad income won’t be as big as it appears now.
Many of the companies owned by Seemandhra businessmen have
their registered offices located at Hyderabad. This might do some injustice to
residuary Andhra Pradesh state post division as the VAT collected from these
offices will be accounted into Telangana state. For this reason post division
companies should be given option to move their registered offices to Seemandhra
region. Residuary Andhra Pradesh Govt can declare Tax holidays to promote their
business men to move their registered offices into Seemandhra.
4. Look into the special needs of the backward regions and
districts of both the states and recommend measures.
There are backward districts in both sides. As per the rural
development board’s statistics eight out of ten districts in Telangana, three districs
of Seemandhra are underdeveloped in human development index. All these
districts should be given special packages for their economic developments.
Rural development in India depends a great deal on
Agriculture and agriculture is entirely dependent on water resource. These
under developed districts should be fed with irrigation by constructing small
and medium irrigation projects. Both states should be given funds for
development of irrigation. Gram panchayats should be given funds for constructing
check dams for improving irrigation.
Hand crafts, cottage industries, agro industries should be
encouraged in these regions with NABARD schemes and empowering people with
necessary education in these areas.
5. Look into issues relating to law and order, safety and
security of all residents and ensure peace and harmony in all regions and
districts consequent to the formation of the state of Telangana and the
residuary state of Andhra Pradesh, and the long term internal security
implications arising out of the move and make suitable recommendations;
Hyderabad city is from the beginning of its birth being
cosmopolitan with people from several cultures ranging from Gujaratis,
Marathis, Kannadigas, Parsis, Punjabis, Marwadis coexisting with locals here and
living with harmony. Over few decades lakhs of people from Seemandhra region
have made Hyderabad as their home and coexisting with natives.
Apart from Hyderabad in the rest of Telangana also scores of
Biharis, Marwadis, people from Seemandhra region live together with natives in
harmony. Telanganaites have always been cordial and receptive to people of
other cultures. It clearly shows that post division there will not be any
issues of safety for minority cultural groups: either Marwadis, Biharis or
Seemandhra settlers. Any special action taking regarding issue of safety of
Seemandhra settlers living in Hyderabad is insulting Telangana administration
and must be avoided.
In Seemandhra region there were some sporadic incidents of
law and order for people of Telangana residing in that region after the
announcement of decision to divide the
state. However there are very few Telangana people living in Seemandhra region
and the incidents were minor. We hope over time things get better. There is no
need to take any special actions regarding the safety of Telangana people
living in Seemandhra region.
6. Look into the sharing of river water, irrigation resources
and other natural resources (especially coal, water, oil and gas) between the
two states and also inter-se with other states, including the declaration of
Polavaram Irrigation Project as a National Project
Final judgment of Brijesh Committee regarding Krishna Water
sharing must be deferred until the completion of division process. Telangana
state must be given its right to present its case before Brijesh Committee.
Special boards with members from Telangana and residuary
Andhra Pradesh states should be formed to oversee Godawari and Krishna Water.
Under Krishna river depending on flood flow water several
projects were built in Seemandhra region. However currently these projects are
getting water allocation at the cost of not constructing projects with net
allocation in Telangana region. Post division flood flow projects must be
restricted to utilizing water from flood flow period and projects in Telangana
with net water allocation such as SLBC that are in pending for long periods
must be completed as priority.
Proposed Polavaram project on Godawari river submerges lakhs
of acres of forest land in Bhadrachalam division. Polavaram project must be
redesigned to ensure minimal submergence.
Coal Mines in Northern Telangana(Singareni collories) will
naturally belong to Telangana state post division. However there are few power
plants in Seemandhra region that depend on these coal mines and must be taken
care post division. Hence agreement should be made for the supply of coal at
reasonable prices for these Seemandhra projects post division. Likewise
Telangana power projects that depend on gas from KG Basin should get gas
allocation agreement.
7. Look into issues related to power generation, transmission
and distribution between the two states;
In the united Andhra Pradesh Telangana region suffered
organized discrimination in several fronts. Discrimination in installation of
power plants is one major thing among others. Due to this discrimination it has
happened so that Telangana region though the biggest consumer and main source
for coal mines does not have enough power plants. Because of this it is evident
that Telangana region will get power shortage post division.
Agreements must be made such that Seemandhra excess power
will be utilized in Telangana until Telangana state becomes self-sufficient in
Power Generation.
8. Look into the issues arising on account of distribution of
assets, public finance, public corporations and liabilities thereof between the
two states;
-
All
the movable and immovable properties that were originally with Telangana
(Hyderabad state) prior to 1956 (before merger) shall naturally belong to
Telangana.
-
AP
Bhavan in New Delhi was compensation to Hyderabad Bhavan which was taken over
by Union Govt. Hence AP Bhavan shall be with Telangana state post merger.
-
Properties
of APSRTC are divided as per the region where they exist.
-
All
the debts should be divded between states as per the project for which the debt
was taken.
9. Look into the issues relating to the distribution of the
employees in the subordinate as well as All India Services between the two
states;
Service records of all the state Govt employees should be
checked thoroughly and divided between states post division as per their
nativity.
10. Look into the issues arising out of the Presidential Order issued
under Article 371D of the Constitution consequent to the bifurcation and
examine any other matter that may arise on account of bifurcation of the state
of Andhra Pradesh and make suitable recommendations.
Article 371D wa formed because of the issues arised due to
Mulki rules implementation and it is applicable only in the united Andhra
Pradesh. Post division it will not be applicable to Telangana state. However
for better division of employment among all districts in Telangana similar
arrangement should be made in Telangana state with dividing Telangana state
into four zones.
Thanks for giving me such an opportunity to express my views.
Best regards
