KCR writes to PM on T concerns

• Attend to all concerns before finalising the Bill
• Separate High Courts should be set up as per Article 214
• Godavari management board not need, as no disputes over it
• Locate Krishna river management board in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao has written a 14-page letter to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh highlighting objections of Telangana people in the State Reorganisation Bill.

Thanking UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for fulfilling the long cherished dream of people of Telangana, Rao went on to praise Sonia for her courage, conviction and commitment, towards carving T state.

He pointed out serious reservations of Telangana people on issues relating to special powers of Governor, common High Court, sharing of water, power, gas, public debts including liabilities besides distribution of pensioners and employees, however, welcomed the decisions relating to territory, coal and concern for backward areas shown in the draft.

While explaining the essence of Telangana struggle spanning over six decades involving supreme sacrifices, Rao said that they always wanted self rule. The tag line of the movement, all through had been injustice in “nidhulu, neellu and niyamakalu (funds, water and appointments)”, he said.

The TRS chief hoped that the Prime Minister would give adequate attention to these concerns before finalising the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill-2013.

Telangana people are baffled that so many state subjects are sought to be taken away from the legitimate purview of the 29th state of the union, he said.

Taking away responsibilities on law & order and power, smacks of distrust in a democratically elected government of Telangana which is nothing but insulting the region. This, he said, may set off a dangerous precedent, impinging upon the democratic and cosmopolitan urban fabric of the country.

Expressing his astonishment over the proposal to have a common High Court for both states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh he said Article 214 clearly necessitates a separate High Court.

The present Judiciary in Andhra Pradesh is vertically split and there is division within the Bar, the Bench as well as the clientele. Hence, the sections 30, 31, 32, 33 of the bill should be replaced with provisions as contained in Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 and similar provisions provided in State Reorganisation Acts of Bombay, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, he suggested.

On the issue of sharing water, Rao said, there is no need for Godavari river management board, since there are no water disputes on that river. But he wanted the Krishna River management board to be located in Hyderabad.

Further, the existing procedures for technical approval may continue with Central Water Commission. Therefore, there is no need to include these functions in the Apex council and board. And, the most important of all, the Pranahita-Chevella project may be declared as national project, akin to Polavaram. Specific sections in the bill namely 84, 85 and 87 along with relevant schedules need to be amended.

The bill, he said should provide for a neat and clean power sector for the new state of Telangana. But, rather than segregating, it is cluttered with cross connections. The likely short-circuiting is bound to shock both the successor states. In view of this, he felt that entire energy generated from the generating stations of AP Genco should belong to that successor state where the plant was located.

Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with respective Discoms should continue in the case of power plants of AP Power Development Corporation Limited (APPDCL) and AP Gas Power Corporation Limited (APGPCL).

The power demand in Hyderabad is about 2000 MW. Since Hyderabad would the common capital for about a ten-year period and it provides power to several strategic Central Government establishments like DRDO, BHEL etc, about 1000 MW should be allotted to Telangana from the share of residuary state of Andhra Pradesh or from central generating stations, he said.

He further said, Telangana may be allotted 60 per cent of coal produced from coal blocks in Orissa and Madhya Pradesh that were recently given to existing state of Andhra Pradesh.

The TRS chief said division of government employees and pensioners between the two states ought to be done on the basis of their nativity. In the interest of justice and fair play, all those illegally working in Telangana should now serve the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh.

“There is no need for Godavari river management board, since there are no water disputes on that river. But the Krishna River management board should be located in Hyderabad”