Telangana Mannem only complete solution

The creation of a new state of Telangana, as proposed in the AP Reorganisation Bill-2013 would result in: 1) Sharing of waters will lead to intense conflict as the boundary between the two new states, Krishna Basin area, is going to be the river bed itself. 2) The construction of Polavaram dam will destabilise and ruin the cultural life of lakhs of Adivasis, both in Telangana and Andhra regions. 3) At the national level, Telangana will be at a disadvantage, vis-à-vis Seemandhra, while protecting its interests as it has only 17 MPs in Lok Sabha versus 25 MPs of Seemandhra.

It is evident that the people of Telangana may have won the battle but might lose the war forever. Telangana will not be able to access its rightful share of Krishna waters (68.5% basin area, a minimum of 700 tmc and an assured crop in one and a half crore acres per annum) as the present scheme of things is not based on ‘Equitable Apportionment’ principle of water sharing within a river basin. The parched fields of Telangana will continue to rely on (electric) power driven bore wells. In conclusion, there are no tangible gains but only heavy losses to Telangana.

Telangana polity must pause and ponder over the end results that would be a reality unless course-corrected immediately. The people of Telangana should firmly decide to initiate appropriate measures to carve a new, expanded state that would adequately meet the core demands of Telangana. They may well consider two-pronged strategy to secure a new state to erase the fault lines:

1) As regards the Krishna waters, the catchment area falling in Seemandhra (including Tungabhadra sub-basin), all the river projects, hydroelectric power stations, dams and barrages, including Prakasam barrage (excluding the Krishna delta area) may be secured and merged in Telangana state. These areas, to be merged, are already receiving their rightful share of Krishna waters for decades and hence no regrets. This measure would give the Telangana state absolute and full control over the Krishna waters.

2) As regards the Adivasi areas and beyond, all the villages and projects (including Dhowaleswaram barrage and Polavaram dam) falling between Khammam district and Krishna and Godavari delta canals (Eluru canal, Western & Eastern Godavari delta canals) and the three districts of North Coastal Andhra region (Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam Districts) may be secured and merged in the expanded Telangana state. By this measure, the people of Telangana will be permanently bonding with the Adivasis of Eastern ghats and also with people of the much exploited and undeveloped north coastal areas. Godavari waters can well be sent across to these three districts by lifting water at Polavaram (The dam height will be limited to 100 ft. FRL to avoid any submersion of Adivasi villages and lands). A multi stage lift scheme, on the lines of Pranahitha-Chevella project, can be executed at much less cost to the exchequer.

The Telangana people may well consider naming the state as Telangana Mannem to concretise their umbilical bonding with the Adivasis of this ancient land.

It is clear that this rearrangement will pose no threat to each other and there are no conflicting points between the interests of the peoples of Telangana and to-be-merged areas. In fact, it is a win-win situation for all the protagonists of ‘division’.

The political representatives of the people belonging to these areas may unite and since they form majority both in the ruling Congress party and the Assembly at large may well take over the reins of state administration and drive the agenda in the following manner:

The State government may declare new districts by reorganising Kurnool district into two districts Kurnool and Nandyala districts.

Kurnool district: Tungabhadra sub-basin area of Ananthapur district and Tungabhadra sub-basin area and Krishna basin area merged into one district.

Nandyala district: Penna(r) basin area of the present Kurnool district.

Palnadu district: This new district may be formed by merging Krishna catchment area of Prakasam district and Guntur district (excluding Guntur Municipal Corporation).

Kondapalli district: This new district may be formed by merging Krishna catchment area and other uplands, above Elulu canal and not receiving canal water, of the present Krishna district (excluding Vijayawada Municipal Corporation). Mannem district: This new district may be formed by merging the Adivasi areas of East & West Godavari districts that are above the delta canals (Eluru canal, Western & Eastern Godavari canals) and other adjoining towns and villages that are not receiving these canals’ water (Eluru, Tadepalligudem and such other towns shall remain with residuary districts of East & West Godavari).

The State government may move a resolution in the State Assembly and Council proposing separation and formation of new state, Seemandhra, comprising of reorganised East & West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, Nandyala and Ananthapur districts along with the present Nellore, Chittoor and Kadapa districts, and naming the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh as Telangana Mannem, comprising of newly carved districts of Kurnool, Palnadu, Kondapalli and Mannem along with the north coastal districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam and the 10 districts of Telangana: Adilabad, Nizamabad, Medak, Rangareddy, Hyderabad, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Khammam, Warangal and Karimnagar.

Proposed Amendments to the Bill:

The MPs of Lok Sabha belonging to Telangana Mannem, totaling a minimum of 24 MPs may move amendments to the AP Reorganisation Bill, as and when it is up for discussion, in the following manner:

1) The successor state is Seemandhra comprising of the 10 districts and the residuary state is Telangana Mannem. (This amendment alone puts paid to all the debates, legal and constitutional wrangling)

2) Deletion of the provision of proposed creation of all River Water Control Boards. (Since all the projects on Krishna and Godavari rivers are in the territory and control of one single state, Telangana Mannem, this provision is redundant and unnecessary)

3) Fixing the tenure of capital of the government of Seemandhra in Hyderabad to two years on rental basis.

4) Deletion of the provision for Governor’s control over law & order in Hyderabad. (This provision is going to be counterproductive as all sections of people from all regions will be residing in the composite state of Telangana Mannem)

5) All residuary matters pertaining to, and including financial matters, movable, immovable assets and liabilities and expenditure on irrigation projects are to be adjudicated by a Commission appointed by the Union government.

Along with the passage of the amended Bill, Parliament may instruct the Election Commission to postpone elections where delimitation is imperative, till such time the new MP and MLA constituencies are notified by it and, in the meanwhile, proceed to conduct General Elections, as per schedule, in the two new states, along with the rest of the nation.

Now that the motives and action plan are transparent and are presently in the public domain, the protagonists can boldly undertake this mission which needs to be executed swiftly, with surgical precision.

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