Governor calls meeting of AP and Tel ministers in Hyd on Feb 1

Amaravati: Governor ESL Narasimhan has convened a high-level meeting with ministers and other public representatives of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana at Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad on February 1 to find a solution to long-pending issues between the two states. About 32 months have elapsed since Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated and Telangana created but the two neighbours continue to squabble over many issues like sharing of river water, staff, assets and the like.

The two states constituted committees to discuss and sort out contentious issues post-bifurcation and this will be their first meeting at the initiative of the Governor. Among the main contentious issues are division of employees between the two states, distribution of assets, division of establishments under Schedules IX and X of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. In its judgement delivered last year, the Supreme Court had directed the Telangana government to share assets with AP in accordance with the Reorganisation Act but the new state remained reluctant to implement the same.

The Governor had a few months ago held a meeting with Chief Ministers of the two states but no solution could be found. Subsequently, the governments constituted separate panels to regularly discuss the issues and resolve them amicably. AP will be represented by Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Youth Affairs and Labour Minister K Atchannaidu and Chief Whip Kalva Srinivasulu. From Telangana, Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao, Power Minister Jagadeeshwar Reddy and advisor G Vivekananda will take part in the deliberations.