GoM on Telangana to meet parties, ministers

NEW DELHI: The GoM, set up to look into the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, will meet separately eight political parties of Andhra Pradesh on November 12 and 13 and union ministers from the state on November 18 to discuss various issues related to the creation of Telangana.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who heads the GoM, said the Ministerial panel will first meet Secretaries of various central ministries and Departments on November 11 to hear their views on how to go about the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and distribution of assets between the two states.

"We will meet the political parties of Andhra Pradesh on November 12 and 13 and central ministers from the state on November 18," he told reporters after the meeting of the GoM.

The political parties are: Congress, BJP, Telugu Desam Party, CPI, CPI(M), Telangana Rashtra Samiti, YSR Congress and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen.

They have been called to meet the high-powered ministerial panel and let it know their views on the process of the division of Andhra Pradesh, assets, river water besides other related issues.

After the third meeting of the GoM, Shinde said they have received more than 18,000 suggestions from individuals and organisations on the issue of creation of Telangana and all the mails and letters are being scrutinised.

The GoM had, in its three meetings, detailed discussions concerning sharing of river water, power, distribution of assets and demarcating of boundaries.

Shinde said detailed reports ministry/department-wise have been presented and the GoM was going through them.

The GoM is looking 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 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.

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.