HYDERABAD: The chief ministers of the Telugu states, A Revanth Reddy and N Chandrababu Naidu, on Saturday decided to constitute a high-level committee with chief secretary-rank officials to deliberate and find solutions for pending disputes between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Welcoming Naidu to Hyderabad’s Praja Bhavan, Revanth gave him ‘Naa Godava’, a book written by the famous Telangana ‘people’s poet’ Kaloji Narayana Rao. The delegations led by the chief ministers then discussed the unresolved disputes between the two states at a meeting that went on for an hour and 45 minutes.
Sources said that during the meeting, Naidu requested the Telangana government to allot a few buildings in Hyderabad to AP but Revanth is said to have not agreed to it. Immoveable assets in the city belong solely to Telangana, he is believed to have told his Andhra counterpart.
The CMs are also said to have disagreed over pending power dues. While Telangana says AP has to give it Rs 24,000 crore, Andhra claims that it has to receive Rs 7,000 crore. When Naidu brought up the topic and asked Telangana about the power arrears, Revanth replied that it is Andhra that should pay the dues, sources said.
But it was not all disagreements with the CMs finding some common ground too. If sources are to be believed, the Andhra CM is said to have agreed to the merger of five villages near Bhadrachalam, now part of Andhra, with Telangana. For this, the CMs have decided to write a letter to the Union Home Ministry to amend the APRA. The five villages are Etupaka, Purushottamapatnam, Kannyigudem, Picchukalapadu and Gundala.
After the meeting ended, Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Andhra Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad briefed the media. When asked about the merger of the five villages with Telangana, Bhatti Vikramarka said that many issues were discussed during the meeting. He added: “We know that issues that have been pending for a decade cannot be resolved in one meeting. This is the first step. Pending disputes will be resolved keeping interests of Telangana in mind.”
To explore solutions to issues between the two states, the Telangana deputy CM is believed to have proposed constituting committees and both the CMs then agreed to it. Speaking to the media, Bhatti Vikramarka said the states have decided to constitute a high-level committee with officials of chief secretary-rank. Three members from each state will be part of the committee, which will hold its first meeting within two weeks, he added. If there are issues for which officials cannot find solutions, those will be deliberated at a minister-level committee to be formed later, he noted.
The Telangana deputy CM revealed that both chief ministers decided to form a coordination committee with TGNAB Additional DG and his Andhra Pradesh’s counterpart to curb the drugs in both states.
Speaking to the media, AP Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad praised the Telangana CM for working in a progressive way for the development of the state.
To speed up finding solutions, he said that a committee has been formed “Andhra sentiments should also be taken into consideration while resolving the issues including those related to APRA and others. The CMs have decided to meet frequently to speed up the resolution process,” he added.
Reacting to Revanth’s remarks on drugs, the Andhra minister: “In AP, ganja is found in the school bags of even Class 8 students. We need to curb this culture”
After the conclusion of the meeting, all the delegates participated in a dinner organised by Revanth. During the dinner, sources said Naidu enquired about the Musi development project and is believed to have given suggestions.
Sources also said that Chandrababu sought details about the implementation of the free bus ride scheme for women in Telangana. It may be recalled that the TDP has also promised free bus rides to women during the campaign before the recent Assembly polls in AP.
What the two states have officially agreed to
CMs decide to set up high-level panel with CS-rank officials
Three members from each state to be part of panel. First meeting within two weeks
If there is no resolution, disputes to be discussed at ministers-level committee to be formed later
To tackle issue of drugs, states to also form coordination committee with TG Anti-Narcotics Bureau additional DG & his Andhra counterpart
What sources said
Andhra to give five villages near Bhadrachalam — Etupaka, Purushottamapatnam, Kannyigudem, Picchukalapadu and Gundala — to TG. For this, both CMs will write to Union Home Ministry to amend APRA
Disagreement over power dues persists
Revanth says no to Andhra request for buildings in Hyd
