Centre calls bifurcation meet

Hyderabad: The Union Government will hold a high-level meeting with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana State governments in August to review the status of implementation of AP Bifurcation Act 2014 under which several promises to compensate the bifurcation losses were made to the Telangana and the residuary state of AP.

The pending disputes on the division of assets and employee related issues between two states will also figure in the meeting.

Highly placed sources said that the two state governments received a communication from the Union Home ministry about the proposed meeting with the top officials of the two states next month.

The officials are already busy preparing official document on the status of the implementation of the bifurcation of Act and the pending promises before the Centre since June 2014 when the Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh.

Sources said that Telangana has been demanding to establish Bayyaram steel plant, railway coach factory at Kazipet and Horticulture and Tribal university as promised in the bifurcation Act but no steps were taken towards materialising them for last five years.

Required funds for the establishment of AIIMS institute in Telangana had also been not released. The Centre gave its nod to the medical institution last year.

Development of national highways would also be discussed in the meeting. The Centre sanctioned highways to Telangana but no progress was made for the completion of the works in many stretches.

Officials of the respective Union ministries, who are involved in the implementation of the assurances given under the bifurcation Act, will also take part in the meeting with the top officials of the two state governments.

Water allocations to the two states from Krishna and Godavari and the efforts made by the two states to resolve the water sharing issues will also take place in the meeting.

Recently, governments of AP and Telangana initiated measures to find amicable solutions in the utilisation of water at optimum level. On the instructions of the Chief Ministers of two states, the irrigation officials already held first round of talks on linking Godavari and Krishna canals.

On the request of the Telangana government, the neighbouring state already handed over its buildings in the Telangana Secretariat to the T state.

Sources said that the disputes on the repatriation of AP employees working in Telangana to their native states, allotment of DSP level police officials between the two states and payment of power dues were also pending.

The two state Chief Secretaries held a meeting recently to resolve the issue which will also be discussed in the meeting. The officials will explain the Centre the efforts made by the two states governments in breaking the deadlock in the division of corporations and assets issues.