Hyderabad: In a significant development, the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments on Saturday came to a consensus on the bifurcation of as many as 89 institutions and organisations that are listed in Schedule IX of the AP Reorganisation Act.
Consensus continues to elude the bifurcation of the AP State Road Transport Corporation, Food Corporation, Dairy Development Corporation and other institutions. The Telangana government has ruled out the possibility of accepting joint operation or joint ownership with AP government regarding the common institutions stipulated under Schedules IX and X of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, after June 2.
However, it offered to provide the services of these institutions, which are mostly located in Hyderabad, to AP. This will be done under the supervision of the TS government, that too by collecting certain service and user charges. AP chief secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao and his Telangana counterpart Rajiv Sharma had met Union home secretary L.C. Goyal in Delhi on Saturday.
Talks end inconclusively
With the Telangana and AP chief secretaries sticking to their stands on contentious issues related to their states, the talks ended inconclusively. AP chief secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao impressed upon Union home secretary L.C. Goyal to frame rules defining the role of the Governor in Greater Hyderabad, the common capital for AP and TS for 10 years post bifurcation.
Sources said the AP government is “very particular” about defining the role of the Governor in view of the fast approaching elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. The AP government had earlier complained to the home ministry about the alleged high-handed police behaviour against AP government employees in a series of cases.
Section 8 of the AP Reorganisation Act deals with the Governor’s role in the common capital and the Governor’s powers in the maintenance of law and order. Mr Krishna Rao wanted Mr Goyal to give operational rules for implementing the same. However, Mr Sharma said it was totally unacceptable as the rules were clearly stated in the Act.
Mr Krishna Rao later told reporters that the Union home ministry will consult Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and take a final decision. He exuded confidence that justice would be rendered to Andhra Pradesh.
Mr Goyal reportedly said that framing of rules can be done only after amendments to the AP Reorganisation Act. Nevertheless, he told Mr Krishna Rao that the ministry will take up the issue with the Governor.
Referring to Section 8 of the Act pertaining to providing powers to the Governor on law and order, Mr Sharma said the stand of Telangana on this issue has been reiterated time and again and no special rules were necessary to notify them. Section 8 is very clear about the procedures to be followed for the maintenance of law and order, he said.
