New Delhi:
The first meeting of the GoM set up to look into the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh ended on Friday. The next meeting will be held on October 19, when all the ministers will attend the meeting.
Basic parameters were discussed on Friday's meeting.
“GoM on Telangana discussed parameters for creation of separate state, full-fledged meeting will take place on 19th October,” Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Friday.
Notwithstanding ongoing protests in Seemandhra, Centre expedited the process of creation of a separate Telangana state with the announcement GoM meet on Thursday.
Shinde is heading the reconstituted Group of Ministers consisting of seven Union Ministers.
Defence Minister AK Antony, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, M Veerappa Moily and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh are among the members of the GoM.
Minister of State for Personnel and Prime Minister's Office, V Narayanasamy, is the Special Invitee on the panel.
The terms of reference for the GoM are as follows:
(i) 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,
(ii) Look into the legal and administrative measures required to ensure that both the state governments can function efficiently from Hyderabad as the common capital for 10 years,
(iii) 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,
(iv) Look into the special needs of the backward regions and districts of both the states and recommend measures.
(v) Look into issues relating to law and order, safety andsecurity of all residents and ensure peace and harmony in all regions and districts consequent to the formation of the state of Telangana and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh, and the long term internal security implications arising out of the move and make suitable recommendations,
(vi) 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,
(vii) Look into issues related to power generation, transmission and distribution between the two states,
(viii) Look into the issues arising on account of distribution of assets, public finance, public corporations and liabilities thereof between the two states,
(ix) Look into the issues relating to the distribution of the employees in the subordinate as well as All India Services between the two states,
(x) Look into the issues arising out of the Presidential Order issued under Article 371D of the Constitution consequent to the bifurcation, and
(xi) Examine any other matter that may arise on account of bifurcation of the state of Andhra Pradesh and make suitable recommendations.
Seemandhra region has been witnessing massive protests following the October 3 decision of the Union Cabinet to create Telangana.
Power generation remains crippled at major power stations, including the Vijayawada thermal power station and the Rayalaseema thermal power station, forcing authorities to impose power cuts ranging between three and ten hours.
Meanwhile, curfew in violence-hit Vizianagaram town was relaxed for two hours this morning to allow people to purchase essential commodities with the situation there limping back to normalcy.
