GoM yet to receive reports from several ministries

NEW DELHI: Given the deep divisions within the political parties and the delay in responses from various ministries, the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Telangana will have to stretch every nerve to meet the tough deadline for preparing its final report on bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Though the UPA government is keen on fast-tracking the process and introducing the Telangana bill in the coming winter session of the Parliament, the task is turning out to be a race against time.

Many political parties failed to send in their replies and suggestions till late Tuesday evening even as the official deadline expired.

Similarly, the GoM did not get reports from several ministries, except Human Resources Development, Water Resources and Petroleum Ministries. The ministries were unable to work out the complicated modalities of division of resources and the pre-engagement of the political leadership with the State elections while political parties are either staying away from the exercise or unable to articulate a politically suitable reply.

The GoM meets on November 7 to take stock of the views and suggestions before it actually starts working on the modalities of the complex bifurcation.

According to sources, the Union HRD Ministry, in its report to the Union Home Ministry, is believed to have suggested establishment of an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and three Central universities in the Seemandhra region, besides an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) and Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in the Seemandhra region. Together, they would entail an investment of Rs 7,000 crore. The GoM will examine the suggestion while preparing its report.

Similarly, the Water Resources Ministry is learnt to have suggested constitution of a separate Inter-State Board to resolve water disputes between the prospective Telangana and residuary State of Andhra Pradesh.

The allocation of river waters for the two States should be done as per the existing tribunal orders, it suggested.On the other hand, the Petroleum Ministry refused to make any specific allocation of petroleum and natural gas reserves between the two prospective States.

The ministries were unable to work out the complicated modalities of division of resources and the pre-engagement of political leadership with elections in five States.

'They are the national assets. The allocation of the reserves should be done by the GoM as per the existing norms,' the Petroleum Ministry reportedly remarked in its report.

The BJP sent a request to the GoM asking for two more days while Telugu Desam Party had already declared that it was not interested since the Centre was working with a pre-conceived mind.

The YSR Congress Party, though it sent a letter, refused to comment at all on the Terms of Reference, saying only a United Andhra was the solution. The CPM has also stuck to the United Andhra stance.

Only the CPI has sent in a detailed reply, supporting the creation of Telengana but submitting a long charter of demands to instill confidence in the Seemandhra region.

Interestingly, Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana submitted two reports to the GoM, though he was expected to forward the party's single point of view on the contentious issue of bifurcation of the State as decided by the Congress Working Committee on July 30.

Botsa told media he had forwarded two reports to the GoM -- one regarding the opinion of Telangana Congress leaders in support of a Telangana State and the other about the aspirations of the Seemandhra Congress leaders that the unity of the State should be maintained.