Even as the Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, set up to look into the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, is holding discussions concerning sharing of river water, power, distribution of assets and demarcating of boundaries, Yanam region of the Union Territory had sought inclusion of the region’s needs while taking decisions and a fresh inter-state agreement between the UT and the residual state of Andhra Pradesh.
Concerns have cropped up in the Yanam region of the UT of Puducherry bordering Andhra Pradesh, which is also dependent on the neighbouring state for water and power and other needs. So far, Yanam has been getting all its requirements from Andhra Pradesh. But post-bifurcation, whether Yanam would continue to get the water from Godavari, power from the grid, affiliation of education board from the residual state of Andhra Pradesh are bothering the civil society in Yanam.
The Yanam civil society had petitioned the Union Home Minister for restoration of the inter-state agreements so that Yanam would continue to get the facilities without fail from the residual state.
Currently, Yanam is getting 30 cusecs of water from Godavari river under an agreement between the British and French government and it was continued to be honoured by government of Andhra Pradesh. Now as Andhra Pradesh is getting bifurcated and new sharing of water being worked out, there is apprehension in Yanam on whether it will continue to receive the water from residual state of Andhra Pradesh, said P Vishnu Murthy, president of Yanam Civil Rights Society.
The GOM while sharing waters between AP and Telangana, should also carefully examine the future needs of Yanam and suggest a separate inter-state agreement to provide 100 cusecs of water through the existing pipeline for drinking, irrigation and industry.
Moreover, Yanam is getting power supply from NTPC through the feeder lines from Andhra Pradesh. For continuance of the supply, the GOM could initiate an inter-state agreement for future needs of the region, said Vishnu Murthy.
Yanam is also dependent on Andhra Pradesh Board of Secondary Education and students appear for public examinations conducted by the board. The Yanam civil society wants the GOM to ensure that the status quo is maintained by the residual Andhra Pradesh with regard to affiliations to the Education Board.
Also a fresh interstate transport authority could be initiated so that both State transport buses could be operated for people of Yanam and residual state of Andhra Pradesh. The Yanam Civil Society had also petitioned the L-G and CM seeking their intervention in this issue.