NEW DELHI, Oct 19: The GoM, set up to look into the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, today had detailed discussions concerning sharing of river water, power, distribution of assets and demarcating of boundaries at its second meeting here and ordered preparation of reports on every issue.
“The GoM discussed in detail terms of reference. We asked Secretaries of concerned departments to sit together with officials of Andhra Pradesh government and make detailed reports on bifurcation,” Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde reporters after the hour-long meeting.
Shinde said detailed reports department-wise will be prepared and presented before the next meeting of the GoM to be held on November 7.
The Home Minister said that except Defence Minister A K Antony all six members of the ministerial panel attended today’s meeting.
“We have received around 2,000 emails (from general public) giving us various information on bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. All these are being scrutinised,” he said.
The high-powered ministerial panel will also look into the legal and administrative measures required to ensure that both Telangana and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh can function efficiently from Hyderabad as the common capital for 10 years.
The GoM, headed by Shinde, was constituted to address all the issues that need resolution at the central and state government levels in the matter.
After its first meeting on October 11, the GoM had said it would address all concerns of the people of Andhra Pradesh with “fairness and objectivity”.
The GoM has already discussed the approach and methodology to be adopted by it and said it would take the opinions of stakeholders on all important subjects while formulating its recommendations.
Shinde chairs the GoM. Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M Veerappa Moily and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh are the other members of the GoM.
Minister of State for Personnel and Prime Minister’s Office V Narayanasamy is a special invitee to the panel.
The terms of reference for the GoM are to determine the boundaries of the new state of Telangana and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh with reference to the electoral constituencies, judicial and statutory bodies and other administrative units.
It will also look into the legal and administrative measures required to ensure that both the state governments can function efficiently from Hyderabad as the common capital for 10 years.
The panel will take into account the legal, financial and administrative measures that may be required for transition to a new capital of the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh.
It will examine the special needs of backward regions and districts of both the states and recommend measures and deal with issues relating to law and order, safety and security of all residents and ensure peace and harmony in all regions and districts consequent to the formation of Telangana and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh.
The GoM will also look into long-term internal security implications arising out of the move and make suitable recommendations.
The GoM will look into the sharing of river water, irrigation resources and other natural resources (especially coal, water, oil and gas) between the two states and also inter-se with other states, including the declaration of Polavaram irrigation project as a national project.
It will examine issues related to power generation, transmission and distribution between the two states as also on distribution of assets, public finance, public corporations and liabilities thereof between the two states.
The panel will discuss issues relating to the distribution of the employees in the subordinate as well as All India Services between the two states.
It will also dwell on issues arising out of the Presidential Order issued under Article 371D of the Constitution consequent to the bifurcation and examine any other matter that may come up on account of this and make suitable recommendations. (PTI)
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