Hyderabad: In the face of stiff resistance from several stakeholders, the Union Cabinet on Thursday dropped the Rayala Telangana proposal and approved the original 10-district Telangana draft based on the recommendations of the Group of Ministers.
Ending the two-month-long suspense, the Cabinet finally approved the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Draft Bill-2013, duly dividing the state into Telangana with 10 districts and Seemandhra comprising 13 districts.
The Cabinet also rejected the demand to make Hyderabad into a Union Territory.
Also read: Telangana bill not final, may see changes
The joint capital will be restricted to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area and will be partially brought under the control of the Governor of Telangana state. He will be assisted by two advisers appointed by the Centre to oversee law and order.
The Centre will appoint an expert committee to recommend the new capital for Seemandhra within 45 days after the bifurcation of the state. The Centre will assist in the building of the new capital city.
The Draft Bill extended the contentious Article 371D, which empowers equitable opportunities in public employment for locals, to the two new states.
The Cabinet also decided that the Bhadrachalam revenue division would continue in Telangana.
After a three-hour meeting of the Cabinet held at the Prime Minister’s residence on Thursday evening, Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde told the media that the draft Bill would be sent to the President as required under Article 3 of the Constitution and he will send it to the Andhra Pradesh Legislature.
Centre will take care: Shinde
The Centre will ensure full utilisation of water resources, and amicably settle all disputes in the sharing of the waters of the Krishna and Godavari rivers between both the states, Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde.
The draft Telangana Bill provides a mechanism for sharing coal, power, oil and natural gas resources of the existing state between the two states.
Highlights: AP reorganisation draft bill
“The Bill will be sent to the President either tomorrow or the day after. I don’t know how much time the President will grant to the AP Legislature to express its opinion. Once the Bill returns from the Legislature it will go to the President again. After the President refers it back to the Cabinet, the Cabinet will again sit and finalise the Bill, which will be introduced in Parliament. But I don’t know when actually we can place it before Parliament. It all depends on when the draft Bill will be returned to us from the AP Legislature,” Shinde said.
Shinde said that the existing admissions process for all higher educational courses in the existing state will continue for another 10 years. The Bill also promised to develop and establish national institutions in Seemandhra state.
The Cabinet said that the Centre will execute the Polavaram multipurpose dam project, including the rehabilitation and resettlement of the people of the submerged areas. It will be declared a national project.
Next: Centre panel to pick new capital
Centre panel to pick new capital
N. Vamsi Srinivas | DC
Hyderabad: The Centre will decide the new capital for the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh in a scientific manner so as to avoid a political wrangle between the two regions of coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.
Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde announced that an expert committee appointed by the Centre will choose a new capital within 45 days of bifurcation. Caste politics may also play a role in deciding the capital. The politically dominant Reddy community may oppose Vijayawada-Guntur — which may be the better option for its infrastructure and central location — fearing that the Kammas may gain out of it. Except for its location, Visakhapatnam has all the features needed to be the new capital.
