New capital for Seemandhra in 45 Days

NEW DELHI: With an aim of cooling tempers in Seemandhra region, the government has promised in the Telangana Bill selection of a capital of residuary Andhra Pradesh within 45 days and tax incentives to promote its economic growth.

The controversial Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, which was introduced by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde in Lok Sabha today amidst chaos, envisages that Hyderabad will be the common capital of Telangana and Seemandhra for ten years.

The Centre will set up an apex council for the supervision of the Krishna and Godavari rivers management boards, amidst concerns about water problems if the state is divided.

The common capital includes the existing area notified as Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and the central government shall constitute an expert committee to give suggestions for a new capital of residuary Andhra Pradesh within 45 days.

The Centre has also tried to address the grievances of Seemandhra region by promising to take appropriate fiscal measures, including offer of tax incentives to the successor states, to promote industrialisation and economic growth in both states.

The central government will provide special financial support for creation of essential facilities in the new capital of the successor state of Andhra Pradesh, including the Raj Bhavan, High Court, government secretariat, Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council and such other essential infrastructure.

The Union government will also facilitate creation of a new capital for the successor state of Andhra Pradesh, if considered necessary, by denotifying degraded forest land.

The Andhra Pradesh Governor will be the Governor for both the successor states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and for the purpose of administration of the capital area, the Governor shall have special responsibility for security of life and property of all those live in it.

The Bill says 25 Lok Sabha seats will be allocated to residuary Andhra Pradesh while 17 Lok Sabha seats to the Telangana. While residuary Andhra Pradesh will get 175 Legislative Assembly seats, Telangana to get 119 Legislative Assembly seats after bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

In order to ensure equal opportunities for quality higher education to all students in the sucessor states, the existing admission quotas in all government or private, aided or unaided institutions of higher, technical and medical education shall continue for ten years during which common admission process shall continue.

The central government promised to set up an apex council for supervision of the functioning of the Godavari River Management Board and Krishna River Management Board.

The apex council shall consist of Union Water Resources Minister, Chief Ministers of residuary Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as members.

The function of the council will include planning and approval of proposals for construction of new projects, resolution of any dispute and supervisiosn of the functioning of the Godavari River Management Board and Krishna River Management Board.

The headquarters of Godavari Board will be located in Telangana while Krishna Board will be located in the residuary Andhra Pradesh.

Polavaram Irrigation Project will be declared as a national project and central government will take under its control the regulation and development and the Tungabhadra Board will continue to monitor the release of water to high level canal, low level canal and Rajolibanda diversion scheme.