GoM bombarded with demands

The GoM set up to address the issues that may arise with the division of Andhra Pradesh has been receiving thousands of representations suggesting various measures. From among them we have already published excerpts from the Memorandum of the TJAC in our news columns on Oct 20. The demands of Union Ministers from Seemandhra, Telangana Congress Monitoring Group, CPI and Telangana Lawyers’ JAC find place in this week’s Focus page.

Make Hyderabad UT without time limit

The following are the major points of wish-list submitted by the Union Ministers belonging to the Seemandhra region to the GoM as and when the State is divided. They indicated that another list may be submitted after due consultations among themselves.

State boundaries: The villages of Krishna, West and East Godavari districts which were part of Andhra till 1959 may be restored to the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh.

Common capital: Hyderabad may be made UT with Assembly on the pattern of Delhi/Puduchery without any time limit and with corridors as mentioned in the Sri Krishna Committee Report. Geographical area of HMDA may be designated as common capital.

New capital and transition period: Identification of location will be done after necessary consultations. Central financial grant may be sanctioned in a phased manner. Release at least Rs 20,000 crore per annum till the new capital is formed. Apportionment of taxes may be made during the transition period. Transitional arrangements regarding Public Service Commission, High Court and AP Administrative Tribunal till alternative institutions are set up are necessary.

Backward regions: Special incentives for attracting investments and other assured tax concessions on the pattern of special states and hill states for a period of 20 years may be given.

Law and Order: Protection of fundamental rights of all persons living in Hyderabad, with police force drawn from both the States may be considered. Central forces need to be deployed during the transition period. Ensure that there is no weakening of administrative capabilities to deal with communal violence or left wing extremism. Coordination mechanism between the two states, in sharing of intelligence etc is necessary.

River waters and other natural resources such as coal, oil and gas: Establish River Valley Authorities for Krishna and Godavari River basins under the control of GoI. Mechanism for ensuring release of water from RDS into Tungabhadra River for meeting the drinking water and irrigation requirements in Kurnool district may be set up. And also coordination mechanism between the two states, particularly in the management of Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar Reservoirs. Solve the special problems that would arise with the management of Srisailam Reservoir posing serious threat to the water requirements, particularly drinking water and electric power requirements of Rayalaseema districts. Ensure that the irrigation projects based on surplus waters in Krishna River don’t become defunct for want of water, particularly in the drought prone areas of Rayalaseema districts. National status for Dummugudem- Nagarjuna Sagar Tail Pond Project for assured water supply to Krishna Delta needs to be accorded. All impediments in the process of declaring the Polavaram irrigation project as national one should be removed.

Issues relating to the distribution of natural resources such as coal, oil and gas so as to ensure as assured supply of fuel for meeting the requirements of the power plants in the residual Andhra Pradesh need to be looked into.

Power: Ensure generation of thermal power in the residual State of AP, fully utilizing the capacity of the thermal power stations located in the region.

Employees: Should study the established principles and also the nature of litigation that arose in the newly formed States of Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand and find measures for ensuring litigation free distribution of employees in the context of Article 371 (D).

Education: See how to ensure that students from both the states have equal access to all the educational and training institutes, including the institutions of higher education such as University of Hyderabad, NIT Warangal, IIT Medak, medical colleges and other institutions till such facilities are developed in residuary Andhra Pradesh.

Local/ Non-local: Redefine the local and non-local candidature.

Geographical connectivity: See how to create connectivity between the capitals of states- 8 lane highway from Ichapuram to Anantapuram connecting Bangalore on one side and through Nellore and Chittor connecting Chennai with a ‘Y’ junction at Guntur on the other. Also strengthen Guntur- Hyderabad highway apart from the Vijayawada- Hyderabad National highway.

Establishing new institutions and strengthening present ones: Metro railway for new capital, IIT, IIM, Central University, AIIMS like institute, National Institute of Physiotherapy, National Institute of Design/ NIFT, other such institutes and PSUs.

Other proposals are: SEZ, Textile – Apparel parks and Sainik School covering Kurnool and Anantapuram districts; industrial zone and steel plant for Kadapa; international religious tourist zone for Tirupati; enhancing capacity of Mannavarm (NTPC-BHEL joint venture) plant; expanding the coastal SEZ complex in Nellore area and speedy implementation of leather-park there; Railway wagon/coach factory in Nellore; IFFCO project in that district.

Also needed are Vanpic project in Prakasam, Guntur districts; upgrading Bapatla Agricultural College to University level; expansion of Air Force base near that town; expedite work on Coast Gurad Station at Nizampatnam, new oil refinery in Vanpic region; international airport at Vijayawada; separate Railway Zone with five divisions of Waltair, Vijayawada, Guntur, Guntakal and Tirupati (new one to be formed); gas based industrial corridor covering Krishna, east and west Godavari; Gas Grid to supply gas for fertilizer units; coconut based industrial corridor in Konaseema; Maritime Board and fishing harbours; expansion of Kakinada, Vizag and Machilipatnam port facilities.

Similarly IT and film industry corridor around Vizag; ITIR with FAB facility and Innovation University in the same city; special backward regions development package for Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts; strengthening of Vizag and Tirupati Airports; High Court in new Capital with Benches at Kurnool and Vizag; assistance for sports infrastructure; regional centre of National Skill Development Council may be considered.