V. V. Balakrishna Journalist: March 2014

Saturday 29 March 2014

Expert Panel Formed to Find a Capital for AP

The Centre on Friday appointed a five-member multi-disciplinary panel to select a new capital for the successor State of Andhra Pradesh.
The committee, headed by former secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, KC Shivaramakrishnan will have Aromar Revi, Prof Jagan Shah, KT Ravindran and Dr Rathin Roy as members. The group will travel extensively in Seemandhra and make appropriate recommendations in six months. The letter, appointing the panel, says it needs to find a suitable place for the new capital while looking at various issues like connectivity, environment etc.
A member of the panel, on condition of anonymity, told Express that the letter is not clear on when the work needs to be commenced. “The issue is not only to find a capital but also to build a city which requires consultations on various issues. We will have a panel meeting first and discuss the issues at length. We will also work out modalities in the meeting,” he said.
Shivaramakrishnan retired from IAS in 1992 and later, joined the World Bank as a senior advisor, Urban Management. He has authored several books and papers on urban management.
Aromar Revi is the Director of the Bangalore-based Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) which is the first prospective National University for Research and Innovation to address challenges of urbanisation. An alumnus of IIT-Delhi, Revi has been a senior advisor to various ministries of the Government of India.
KT Ravindran was former head of urban design at the School of Planning and Architecture of New Delhi. Prof Ravindran was also nominated as member of the UN Capital Master Plan to advise on UN project in New York.
However, sources in the Raj Bhavan said they were yet to receive a communication on the appointment of the panel. “Though the appointment is confirmed, orders are yet to be issued,” official sources said.
The Centre also appointed former chief secretary of Rajasthan Salauddin Ahmed and former DGP of Maharashtra Anami Narayan Roy as advisers to Governor ESL Narasimhan. Raj Bhavan sources confirmed the appointments.
Salauddin Ahmed is a 1975-batch IAS officer and worked in different capacities in Rajasthan. He was appointed chief secretary of Rajasthan in 2010 and retired in 2012. He was the first Muslim chief secretary of Rajasthan. Ahmed also served as CMD of the Rajasthan Financial Corporation (RFC), principal secretary of literature, art and culture and CEO of the Amber Development and Management Authority (ADMA).
Ahmed is a native of Lucknow and joined the Rajasthan Government in July 1975. He served as sub-divisional officer of Kotputli in 1977-78 and as additional collector of Ajmer in 1980.
Anami Narayan Roy is a 1972-batch Maharashtra cadre IPS officer and retired as DGP of Maharashtra. Roy held most prestigious and challenging posts during his 38 years of service.
He was Mumbai police commissioner for almost three years and faced serious challenges. But, he was popular as “People’s Commissioner”. He started the Citizen Facilitation Centres for providing time-bound and transparent solutions.
Roy served as DGP for two terms. First, he was appointed on March 1, 2008. But, he had to step down in Feb 2009 after the Bombay high court termed his appointment arbitrary. Later, he was appointed again in January, 2010.
Roy was also chairman of the Vandana Foundation. The foundation works primarily for livelihood support for widows and families of farmers who committed suicide in the two districts of Vidarbha Yavatmal and Wardha in Maharashtra and the poorest of the poor in the slums of Mumbai.
Roy, ahmed made guv’s advisers
The Centre on Friday appointed ex-chief secretary of Rajasthan Salauddin Ahmed and former DGP of Maharashtra Anami Narayan Roy as advisers to Governor ESL Narasimhan.

comments

Baba from Gwalior

Where is environmental expert in the committee

Seemandhra Staff Seek Option, But T Staff Oppose

Telangana employees want all Seemandhra employees sent back to the new state of their nativity, Seemandhra employees, however, want options to be given to them to chose either Telangana or new Andhra Pradesh for service only after the capital for new AP state is decided.
This was the crux of the representations made by 16 associations of employees which met the Kamalnathan Committee at the Secretariat here on Friday.
The committee, before framing guidelines to share the 56,000-odd employees between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, elicited the views of employees’ associations. Besides CR Kamalnathan himself, joint secretary in the department of personnel and training (DoPT) Archana Varma was present at the meeting. The guidelines may be issued in a week.
Though ‘teacher’ is in the district post category, those appointed in the 20 per cent non-local quota in Telangana too want option to go to their native districts in AP. But Kamalnathan rejected their request saying that the committee would look into the allocation of state-cadre posts. He suggested to teachers and employees of state public sector undertaking to represent their case to the future governments which may take a political decision.
According to teachers’ unions, there are around 20,000 Seemandhra people working in Telangana and all of them were recruited under the 20 pc non-local quota. Likewise, around 500 Telangana teachers are working in Seemandhra.
T Employees’ Demands
Employees native to Telangana shall be allotted to Telangana. The rest shall be deemed to be allotted to the residuary AP.
If employees of residuary AP are more than the cadre strength fixed in a department, the excess number of employees may be utilised in the residuary AP for corporations/schemes/projects on deputation. They will not be allocated to Telangana.
Class-4 employees belonging to Telangana shall be allotted to only Telangana
Nativity shall be decided on the basis of verifiable academic records.
A large number of Seemandhras are still working in Telangana. Before taking up the exercise of distribution, all such identified employees should be first sent back to their native districts/zone. There not be option for any cadre post
Only T-employees should be allowed to work in T-state. Any vacant posts should be filled by promoting T-employees.
We will allow Seemandhra employees to work in Telangana Secretariat
There should be no option for employees belonging to either state. In case of excess staff in any state, supernumerary posts may be created to adjust them.
Seemandhra Staff’s Pleas
Only provisional options should be given till a new capital city for residuary AP is decided. If the new capital is near their district, the employees may opt to go there. Otherwise, they will remain in Hyderabad. Final option should be only after the capital is decided.
The presidential order enables inter-zonal transfer of local cadres. Such provision is not overridden nor taken away by the AP Reorganisation Act. Some state- level institutions like Lokayukta and RTI are not mentioned in the Act. The status and working conditions of employees in such institutions have to be clarified.
Employees appointed under non-local category by APPSC or by other methods of recruitment should not be disturbed.
The allocation of employees should be in the ratio of 58:42 based on population.
Children of employees shall be given option to choose a state, a the definition of local candidate will become a hurdle to those who will opt for AP since they studied in Telangana.
Number of posts in each category at Secretariat should be allocated between the two states based on
population.
Seemandhra teachers, recruited under non-local category and working in Telangana, should be allowed to go to their native districts.

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anonymous from Vijayawada

pillars of passage of ap reorganisation bill rested on the four cornor sandcement portor of peaceful coexistence of working staff by OPTIONS and not by PINDARI invadors and invasions of srt stunt masters, 2. the integrated tilting support of junk business party hungry for power share booties in 2014 elections ventured to bifurcate telguthalli by sacrificing royalaseema thalli to acult godesses, 3. agreed principle of live and let live all indians including sheemandhrs in hyderabad telenghana and their kith and kin including their unreliable investments 3. proper storage,maintenance of irrigation water required utilised by sheemandhras for last 60 years and maintenance of to and fro communications in indian union with telenghana and beyond telengana. still sheemandhras are in coma unbearable of the humiliation thrown on by their sons traitors like moonmoonbob, townshipqueen shupervermilioncinewastematineeidolsevenhills of mogalla oor, helapuri pillazamindar, badshaliquordon, bodam of gramsiumhalapuri, wealthghodess,powerbrokerwilliamthornhill, ghunturghonghuratractorkhontractor, vizaghsevenstarkchontractor, bongholeshinghapuram industrialist, khurnoolrailranakarodraja, kankanad baldhaircherakuraja, all these tycoons contributed to telghuthalli bifurcation. if telenghanites stick to sheemandhras ngos to go from hyderabad, almost it amounts to pindari northwestern frontier and aggression only inviting repealing of ap reorganisation act passed in political lif live telecastcut.

State to Centre: Correct Errors in AP Reorganisation Act

The state government is requesting the Central government to include the line ‘all the ongoing projects’ in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 as far as irrigation projects are concerned so that both Telangana and residuary Andhra Pradesh will benefit in the future.
The Reorganisation Act stated that ‘’the following irrigation projects which are under construction shall be completed as per the plan notified by the existing state of Andhra Pradesh and the water sharing arrangement shall continue as such - Handri Neeva, Telugu Ganga, Galeru Nagiri, Venegondu, Kalvakurthi and Nettempadu.”
But, the irrigation officials are wondering why the Centre specifically mentioned only six projects and did not include the other ongoing projects. ‘’The officials at the Central Water Commission too could not answer this question,’’ a top official told Express.
Now, the officials, through Governor, are dashing off a letter to the Centre to include the word ‘’all the ongoing irrigation projects’’ in the Act so that the underconstruction projects in both Telangana and Andhra would be completed.
The officials argue that if only six projects were mentioned in the Act, then there would be a problem in future in completing all the other ongoing projects. Because, the Central government, as per the Act, has to accord permission to complete the projects. The officials are wondering why there was no mention about other ongoing projects including AMRP (SLBC).
For including the word ‘all irrigation projects” in the Act, it did not require to amend the Act and need not go to the Parliament.
The officials are also seeking the Centre to make some typographical and printing errors in the Act. For example, the six ongoing projects mentioned in the Act has an error. The Veligodu project is mentioned in the Act as ‘Venegondu’.
Likewise, Section 87(1) in the Reorganisation Act too needs modification to render justice to Telangana region.
The section stated that the proposed Irrigation Boards will regulate canal network and transmission lines necessary to deliver water or power to the states concerned.
An officer said that if the Board manages even inter-state canals, then problems may arise in future. The entire jurisdiction of Nagarjuna Sagar Right canal will fall under residuary Andhra Pradesh. But, the NSP left canal will supply to Telangana and also to Krishna district. If the Centre managed the left canal and releases water to Seemandhra, then Telangana would suffer. So officials mooted modification to this section.
Another mistake in part two of the Act under the XI Schedule which directs to See section 85(7)(e): “Principles governing the functioning of the River Management Boards”. But, there was no section 85(7)(e) in the part one of the Act.
When the officials pointed out these mistakes, the Union home secretary wanted the state to identify all such errors in the Act.

‘Include Development of T Film Industry in Manifestos’

Telangana Cinema Chamber of Commerce (TCCC) at a meeting here on Tuesday has demanded that the manifestos of political parties in Telangana region should reflect the aspirations of the film industry of Telangana.
Telangana culture and language were insulted in several films produced by Seemandhra people till now. “We want to maintain the existence of Telangana culture in the film industry. The manifestos of parties should reflect the aspirations of the Telangana film industry,” TCCC secretary general Syed Rafi said.
He condemned the meeting of chairman and co-chairman of Telangana Congress manifesto committee D Sridhar Babu and Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka with Seemandhra film industry representatives KS Ramarao and Burgupalli Sivarama Krishana recently. Rafi wondered whether the Congress manifesto committee was trying to keep the film industry at the feet of the Seemandhra people even after the creation of separate Telangana.
Whether the Congress leaders were endorsing the demands of Seemandhra film personalities to seek more benefits in Telangana and to keep their supremacy over the film industry, he asked. ‘’It is highly objectionable to discuss the Telangana film industry policy with Seemandhra persons,” he added.
He further said that it was ridiculous that the Telangana film industry was being dictated by the people from Seemandhra region. Their meeting was held to ensure that the dominance of Seemandhra in the industry continued even after the bifurcation and to safeguard their monopoly. It was also strange that they had demanded tax exemption to the theatres already owned or occupied by Seemandhra people, Rafi said.
The manifestos of parties should be drafted only to encourage the artistes, technicians and entrepreneurs from Telangana cinema industry but not to re-establish the dominance of Seemandhra people in T-state, Rafi said. ‘’We do not have any objection if Seemandhra cinema industry getting benefits from residuary Andhra Pradesh,” he added. “Trying to strangle the Telangana cinema industry with the name Telugu would result in severe consequences,” he warned.
Telangana Cinema Producers’ Council president Sana Yadireddy, Cinema Directors’ Association president Allani Sreedhar, Cinema Distributors’ Association president Uday Reddy, Cinema Exhibitors’ Association president Mallikarjuna Goud, and others were present.

Scanner Shortage Hits File Digitisation

Racing against time to complete the state’s division work, the babulog, after almost 21 days, have suddenly realised that they are short of scanning machines!
Tasked with scanning heaps of government files, the state administration has now, at this late hour, decided to place order for more heavy-duty scanners by inviting tenders to hire them. Placing of orders and getting new scanners will take some more time.
It may be recalled that chief secretary PK Mohanty has set April 30 as the deadline to complete the division work whereas governor ESL Narasimhan has directed the officials to complete all the work by May 15.
With almost 21 days of work completed, officials reviewed the progress of digitisation and photo-copying of government files on Tuesday and realised that the work was going on a slow pace.
They decided to place order for more scanning machines so that all the files will be scanned and uploaded to state government’s data centre.
“One department has five scanners now. Each scanner is able to scan around 5,000 pages a day and some departments are able to scan a small number of files,” said an officer. According to official sources, the number of pages to be copied runs into lakhs. “My department in the Secretariat has 2,700 files. It is a herculean task to take three copies of each file,” said a senior IAS officer.
According to sources, the panchayat raj department has more than 15,000 files and the revenue department around 16,000 files.
As per the decision taken at a review meeting held with the chief secretary on Tuesday, the officials will now hire heavy- duty scanners which can scan pages speedily.
The officials have to take three copies of each file: one for the archives, one for the section concerned and another for the respective head of the department.
On Tuesday, the officials decided to direct the AP Technology Services to place the order for more scanning machines.
CORPORATIONS
Meanwhile, the officials involved in the division work also started identifying the corporations and societies which are running in losses or not directly getting central government funds. Of the 80 corporations, only 32 will be continued. The remaining will be merged with their respective departments.
The central government changed the norms and is directly sending the money to the state government for AIDS Control Society, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Rajiv Vidya Mission and others. These were created only to get central funds. With the changed policy, these corporations could be merged with the parent departments, source said. Some corporations have become defunct and are running with only five to ten skeletal staff. Such corporations too be will be closed.
This would help to utilise the manpower, including AIS officers, in a judicious manner after the division of the state.
As per the present strength of the Assemblies, the Telangana or the new Andhra Pradesh can have only l8 and 27 ministers in the cabinets.
“If the departments or corporations are more in number, the ministers cannot handle them. The merger or closing of some departments or corporations will be made keeping in mind how many ministries/departments the the new states will have,” the sources said. At present, there are 37 departments and 185 heads of departments (HoDs). The number will decrease considerably, the sources said.

Settle All Key Issues by May 15: Governor

Governor ESL Narasimhan has directed officials to complete all formalities on all key issues of state’s reorganisation by May 15.
He asked the officials to complete the process well before June 2, the deadline fixed for formation of two new states and elected governments to be put in place.
The chief secretary and other senior officers made a detailed presentation to the governor at the Raj Bhavan on Saturday on the state reorganisation work. This included key issues, time lines and action plan being implemented by various departments.
Principal secretary (finance) PV Ramesh gave a presentation on the employee allocation issues, guidelines, state advisory committees, and all-India service officers’ allocation. All the employee allocation would be taken up strictly according to the guidelines by the state advisory committee, which will be constituted by the central government, the officials informed the governor. Ramesh presented details of financial assets allocation and how they are geared up for ensuring that both the successor states start functioning smoothly from the appointed day.
He also made a presentation about the activities which are common to all departments like copying of files and maintaining a record room, movable and fixed assets division, training institutions, laws and court cases, IT infrastructure management. The officials have said that all the files will be indexed and categorised and copies will be made available to both the governments.
It is also informed that all important files, records will be digitised and electronic copies readied for easy storage and retrieval. The governor advised the chief secretary and other senior officials to complete the entire work before May second week in a systematic, fair and transparent way. He emphasised that as far as the common man is concerned, all the services, which they were receiving now, should continue without any disruption. He also ordered to pay particular attention to the smooth functioning of the public distribution system, various pension payments and supply of seeds to the farming community.
Other important state reorganisation issues related to companies and corporations, training institutions, energy will be presented before the governor on Monday, said chief secretary PK Mohanty.

Saturday 22 March 2014

Dept-wise Work Allocated to Five Senior Officials

Quickening the pace of state division work further, chief secretary PK Mohanty allocated department-wise work to five senior officials on Friday.
SP Tucker, special chief secretary (planning) who is given full additional charge of the post of principal secretary (GAD - state reorganisation), will be the overall in-charge of the activities related to the reorganisation of the state.
He will be responsible for coordinating all activities envisaged under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014. He will lead the apex committee and review the output of other committees established for different subjects relating to the state reorganisation.
He will head the State Reorganisation Cell relating to the allocation of employees. He will liaise with the central government and statutory entities having a role with the state reorganisation work as per the work assigned by the chief secretary.
PV Ramesh, principal secretary (finance) who has been assigned additional responsibilities as the ex officio principal secretary (GAD-SR), will be the convener of the apex committee and assist the chief secretary and the principal secretary (SR) with the work relating to the state reorganisation as assigned to him from time to time. He will also assist the chief secretary/principal secretary (SR) in coordinating day-to-day activities relating to the general administration (SR) department.
He will be responsible for preparation of guidelines, instructions, conduct of meetings, drafting of minutes, follow-up action and other activities, including matters relating to employees allocation and other state reorganisation issues based on the instructions of the chief secretary /principal secretary (SR).
K Ramakrishna Rao, special secretary (finance); Jayesh Ranjan, APIIC managing director; B Venkatesham, AP Housing Corporation MD; and N Siva Sankar, secretary (political), GAD; who have been assigned additional responsibilities as ex officio special secretaries of general administration (SR) department, will perform the functions pertaining to the departments allocated to them. They will provide necessary support to the sectoral/subject committees and assist the departments with the reorganisation related tasks.

No Money for Even Drains but Parties Promise the Moon

Officials in the Finance Department, who are busy with State division work, have a word of caution for political parties - keep in mind the fact that the State has been divided while promising the moon in manifestoes. New states inevitably need money for infrastructure and development. "State finances are poor, if not worse, as it is. So, where will the money come from for all the poll promises?" they wonder.
This is a unique election as elected representatives will represent two separate State governments after the appointed day. "After State division, the two new States require funds for various activities. It is better if parties do not announce new schemes or projects at least for this election," opined a senior officer.
The finance officials explained that after calculating food inflation, the growth rate many slip into negative zone. Both T and AP States will face initial financial problems, they warned.
The minimum support price of agricultural produce has increased considerably. Input subsidy and other subsidies to agriculture amount to `4,000 crore. Besides, land revenue and irrigation cess were abolished, and the loss was `200 crore. "We have no money to maintain drains and canals now," admitted an officer.
The subsides in power sector, food, agriculture, scholarships to weaker sections and others amount to `22,000 crore. Though the plan expenditure projected in the State budget was `60,000-70,000 crore, the real expenditure was just `40,000 crore every year. After excluding subsidies and others, the actual amount available with the government to spend is just `20,000 crore.
Every year, the expenditure is increasing by 15 to 20 per cent. But, the income is not catching up. "Parties should be careful in announcing new schemes or initiatives. Whichever party forms the government either in AP or T, requires money for development. Any new scheme will halt development process in the new states," an officer explained.
The guidelines issued by the Election Commission on election manifestos too says: "In the interest of transparency, level-playing field and credibility of promises, it is expected that manifestoes also reflect the rationale for the promises and broadly indicate the ways and means to meet the financial requirements for it. Trust of voters should be sought only on those promises which are possible to be fulfilled".

Parties & Promises

TDP
Waiver of crop loans

Free laptops to students pursuing higher education

Rs 10,000-cr package for BCs

Rs 5,000-cr for welfare of Kapus

Cycles to all high school girls

Rs 1,000-2,000 monthly dole to unemployed

TRS

Waiver of up to `1 lakh farm loan to 21 lakh farmers
2-bedroom flats each
Rs 10,000-cr for development of Dalits

YSRCP

Fee power to farmers
Scholarships of `500 per child up to two children
Hike in old age pension to `700
Rs 1,000 for every woman for studies of children

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Two CMs to Function From the Same Secretariat

With officials more or less deciding that the office of the chief minister of the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh be located within the Secretariat, babus have got down to the most key aspect of the matter _ Vastu.
For the time being, it is the roads and buildings officials who have turned Vastu experts and are using their expertise to finalise the entry/exit points for the first chief minister of new AP and also his office _ everything as per Vastu.
Informed sources disclosed to Express that while doing the exercise on distributing buildings of state offices in Hyderabad, the officials have decided to house the office of the new AP chief minister in the existing Secretariat itself.
‘’If the Secretariat of residuary AP is located elsewhere in Hyderabad, most of the buildings in the present Secretariat will remain vacant. So, it has been decided to apportion the Secretariat to the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to run the administration of the respective states,’’ they said.
Currently, the chief minister’s office is located in the C-Block. It is not clear which blocks will be allotted to Telangana and AP.
Officials are thinking of locating the office of the chief minister of Telangana in C-Block and the CM of AP in H-South Block.
“We will not construct any compound wall to divide the Secretariat but will erect some kind of fencing to prevent visitors from one state from straying into the office of the other state,” an officer involved in the exercise of the distribution of buildings told Express.
“We want to identify a block for AP chief minister and provide necessary partition in the block for CMO, cabinet meeting room, meeting room and others. The facilities currently available for the chief minister in the C-Block will be extended in the block to be earmarked for AP CM too,” said an officer.
While doing so, officials are also looking into the Vastu aspect. “The old gate of the Secretariat was closed for Vastu reasons. The CMO is located in the corner of C-Block only for Vastu reasons. We cannot reopen the old gate. The existing entry to the Secretariat will be used for Telangana chief minister. We will erect a new gate for Andhra chief minister, considering all Vastu rules,” an officer explained.
“We cannot hire Vastu experts for the purpose. The architects in the R&B department are well versed with basic Vastu principles. So, they apply the same rules while creating a new office for Andhra CM and finding new entry and exit points,” an officer said.
“Our intention is that after June 2, the first chief minister of Telangana or Andhra Pradesh should not refuse to enter into the Secretariat on Vastu objections. We will adhere to basic Vastu tenets. It is up to the two chief ministers to make suitable amendments to their peshis,” the officer said.

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Buildings to be apportioned to 2 States

Express News Service
Hyderabad, March 20:
All the buildings of state offices in Hyderabad will be divided to locate state level offices of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana after June 2.
The Assembly, Secretariat and other buildings will be divided so as to function the administration of two states.
The Old and New MLA quarters and Ministers' quarters will be divided on 58:42 ratio so that peoples' representatives of both the States will live there.
Likewise, the state level offices like Excise, APERC, State Election Commission will be allotted between two states. It means that the State offices of the both the states will continue in the same buildings, till the residuary AP government made its arrangements for new offices.
Hyderabad is common capital for both the States for ten years. If the AP government wanted to move out of Hyderabad before ten years, the AP government had to make its own arrangments. Until then, the two Heads of Departments (HoDs) will function in the present buildings of respective offices, the official sources said.
"If the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh wanted the Commissioner of Agriculture to locate in Vijayawada, they will move out. But, we are making arrangements to run the offices on the Appointed Day," an officer said.
The same was explained to Governor ESL Narasimhan at the first meeting of the sectoral committee "Buildings in Hyderabad and Properties across State" held at Raj Bhavan on Thursday evening. The final decisions will be taken in the later meetings, sources said. Roads and Buildings principal secretary B Sam Bob and other officials were present at the meeting.

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Thursday 20 March 2014

All India Service Officers Left with No Options

There will be no options for All India Services (AIS) officers during the division of employees between Telangana and Seemandhra. The Centre will constitute a committee most likely after 10 days and frame guidelines on allocation of IAS, IPS and IFS officers between the two States.
A State-level committee, constituted under the chairmanship of M Samuel, will hold a meeting with AIS officers on March 21 to gather their views. The panel will prepare a report within 10 days and submit it to the Centre so that it can take a decision in this regard.
Sources told Express the AIS officers will not be given an option to choose either Telangana or the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh. The IAS, IPS and IFS associations, which are expected to meet soon, will discuss the issue. The Sameul committee will not be meeting individual officers and hence, the associations will have to arrive at a broad consensus among themselves.
Currently, 626 AIS officers are working for the State government. “If an option is given, all the seniors and those who are to retire in the next five years may prefer Telangana as they are associated with Hyderabad. In such a case, the Telangana state will get all the seniors. The residuary State will be left with juniors and may not even have a Chief Secretary!” an officer explained.
Among the officers are special chief secretaries, principal secretaries and secretaries. The Centre may allocate these officers based on the posts they are holding. It may also take seniority into consideration. For example, when allocating special chief secretaries, seniority will be considered. Most probably, the officers will be allocated in a 58:42 ratio — which means the two states will get senior and junior officers. According to sources, there are 174 “internal” and 124 “outsiders” among IAS officers. However, it appears those belonging to Seemandhra are preferring the residuary State while their Telangana counterparts are obviously keen on working in the Telangana State.
But some Seemandhra officers want to stay in T State for several reasons. “I am going to retire in two years. I want to remain in Hyderabad,” a senior IAS officer from Seemandhra told Express.
Several IAS and IPS officers met Ministry of Home Affairs secretary Anil Goswami in the last two days and requested him to give them options to choose T or AP.

Tucker to head SR Dept

Express News Service
Hyderabad, March 19:

The State Reorganisation Department in the General Administration Department (GAD) will be headed by SP Tucker.
   Principal secretary Planning Satya Prakash Tucker is placed in Full Additional Charge of the post of Principal Secretary to Government, General Administration (SR) Department with immediate effect. Orders to this effect were issued by Chief Secretary PK Mohanty today.
   The subjects of Accommodation, Claims and General hither to dealt by Secretary to government (Accommodation & SR), General Administration Department are here by allotted to Secretary to Government (Political), General Administration Department.
   Senior IAS officers PV Ramesh (Finance) K Ramakrishna Rao (Finance Department),
Jayesh Ranjan (APIIC), N Siva Sankar (GAD) and B Venkatesham (Housing) are designated as ex-officio principal secretary/secretary/special secretary to Government in General Administration (SR) Department to assist Tucker, in respect of subjects assigned to them.

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Andhra Pradesh Division Work to End by May 1

Chief secretary PK Mohanty informed the Union ministry of home affairs on Tuesday that they would complete the state’s division work by the end of April so that the central government would have one month’s time to complete the process before the Appointed Day.
MHA officials had a word of appreciation for the state administration for doing the work at a brisk pace.
This opinion was expressed by the senior officials of MHA after a thorough review meeting here on Tuesday.
After the notification was issued for formation of separate Telangana, MHA officials conducted the first review meeting at the Secretariat on Tuesday to know the progress of the work.
Mohanty and in-charges of 15 sub-committees gave a PowerPoint presentation on the progress of the work. They explained the progress of work on every section of the Telangana Act.
MHA secretary Anil Goswami, joint secretary (Centre-state relations) S Suresh Kumar and additional secretary (Centre-state) Rajiv Sharma reviewed the work.
The chief secretary told the visiting MHA officers that they set the deadline to complete their work by April-end so that the Centre would have one more month’s time to approve the division work. Anil suggested to state officials to be “considerate and humane” in the division work.
“The MHA officials were satisfied with the progress of the division of the work. Some works on division were taken up in three other states only after the appointed day and formation of new states. But, in Andhra Pradesh, the division work is progressing ahead of the schedule said the MHA officials,” a senior officer told Express after the review.
It may be recalled that the notification for Telangana state was issued on March 4. In the last 13 days, the chief secretary constituted 19 committees and issued clear-cut guidelines on how to go about the division work. The chief secretary has conducted three review meetings so far on the division work.
The in-charges of 15 sub-committees briefed Goswami on the progress of the work. However, some IAS officers wanted to know from Goswami what if some division work remained pending even after the Appointed Day, i.e, June 2. Sources said Goswami explained that the division of finance department, division of files and other key issues should be completed by June 2. He said the AP Reorganisation Act allowed work to continue after the Appointed Day. The work on corporations, PSUs and others may continue for some more days after the Appointed Day. Later, Goswami called on governor ESL Narasimhan.

comments

Hyderabadii

Telangana state must be reality for saving democracy in this country and at last hopes that Telangana people will get justice in New Telangana state.

TeluguBidda from Frankfurt

That's nonsense. There was no real "injustice" being done to "Telanga people" in the united AP (Srikrishna comm report established that). In fact, thanks to enormous contributions made by Andhra folks over the last 60 years, Telangana (which was highly uneducated and very backward due to the neglect of (Hindu) masses during the Nizam regime) and Hyderabad made great strides and are what they are today. Therefore, the bifurcation, and especially snatching away HYD, is a grave injustice to the people of Andhra and Rayalaseema.

Hyderabadii

What Andhra rulers develop from 1956 to till last month? Secunderabad or Hyderabad railway station and begumpet airport meeting to the population of 1953 was all built by Nizam. Did the Seemaandhra rulers constructed any new railway line from Hyderabad or any new road from Hyderabad in the past 60 years and all these projects were built by Nizam when the country don't have such a technology. Except looting of Telangana region resources nothing was done to Telangana people. IF you go to interior parts of Adilabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, Nalgonda & Nizamabad they don't have even pure water to drink and this is the fate of Telangana people in the past 60 years of United AP, which is useless slogan. There are 24,000 illegal job holders who don't have proper qualification and merit from Seemaandhra region occupying govt. jobs in Telangana state which was violating GO610. Is it not the pure and clear case of voting?? and what else do they want to open their eyes.

TeluguBidda from Ann Arbor

Part 1: If any, part or all of what you were true about your so-called "Andhra rulers" not caring for Telangana, then what have the MLAs, MPS, and even 10 year CM ship from Telanaga region been doing all this time? Laying eggs ("baatu/duck gudlu," as they say in Telugu)? Things like rail lines and massive national highways are central government's responsibility. The congress party which ruled AP until NTR came along (1983) did not do a good job of developing AP, much like they did a bad job through out India, but states which had higher education levels, such as Maharashtra, did a bit better. AP's overall literacy was poor when it was created, because Telangana's literacy/education levels were abysmal when AP formed. Development follows education, and millions of teachers from Andhra (which had better education levels when AP was formed because it was under direct British rule as part of the Madras presidency) helped raise the education level in TG and Rayalaseems. You should be thankful to Andhra people for that.

Hyderabadii from Doha When you people till 1954 stayed with Madras state for 150 years why you people not develop your own Seemandhra region?? Because you people buy argument that you were in minority and the same case for Telangana MLAs/MPs. Mind you, Without a single Telangana legislature in united AP state the AP assembly can run as 174 MLAs of Seemaandhra legislatures are sufficient to run the state if got majority of 154 in SA region in this total seats of 293. Then what is the use of Telangana legisltatures? Your Seemaandhra rulers always threatened Telangana legisltures so Telangana remains backward for past 60 years whatever now Telangana state has it was because of grace of Nizam rulers and we never got from

Hyderabadii from Doha

Nizam Sugar Factory and Azam Jahi mills in Warangal district which used to give employment to scores of poor people of Telangana region during Nizam rule was closed for the selfish gains of SA politicians. Nizam is the one who provided employment to poor people of Telangana state But Seemaandhra rulers only suck blood of Telangana people resorting to do suicidal death and in the rule of C B Naidu as many as more than 500 Telangana farmers committed suicides and you praise Naidu who prevent irrigation of Telangana lands & make dry and then sale to foreign companies and earned crores of illegal money on Hyderabad/Telangana lands and you can go and see his propery in Singapore. What YSR did also the replica of Naidu and he YSR amassed wealth to billions. Don't say never never ever that SA politicians developed Hyderabad as Hyderabad is a historic city. When your rulers built like monuments like Charminar or Golconda in Hyderabad then we can start again this topic. SA politicians did no development except preventing irrigation on Telangana lands and then making dry and earning crores of illegal money on each land by giving to foreign companies and nothing else.

TeluguBidda from Ann Arbor

Part 2: NTR's (who was from Andhra) rule put AP on India's map, gave some pride and self-confidence to Telugu people, and he helped in improving the higher education system. Chandrababu Naidu's (from Seema) rule put AP/HYD on world map and he was instrumental in making HYD the modern IT hub that it is (and that makes HYD generate the revenue that is does). Telangana and HYD are what they are today because Seema Andhra folks (along w/ TG folks) put in a significant amount of effort and investment into it. Bifurcating AP, and snatching HYD away from folks who strove hard to make it what it is, is therefore unjust, unconstitutional and ultimately detrimental to the people of Telangana as well (being united is what is in the best interests of all Telugu people). Therefore, the supreme court must vacate the T-Bill and declare the bifurcation null and void.

Hyderabadii from Doha

Hyderabad was already on the World map before 1956 because of Charminar and Golconda fort due to historic places and not because of IT. Why did your SA rulers choose only Hyderabad as capital in 1956?? Because it was readily built and no more efforts required to develop. IF Chandra babu naidu had developed Hyderabad in 10 years then on the same lines can he develop another place in Seemaandhra in another atleast 20 years? The answer is a big NO as he or Seemaandhra rulers cannot develop another place in Seemanandhra if even I give Naidu or Jagan another 25-30 years also. I can smell your selfish and cunning words here. IF you people have guts develop a capital like Hyderabad standard at least in next 20 years. Mind you, Hyderabad was world rank city in 1956 itself and who are Seemaandhra people to develop hyderabad? Nizam is the one who establish Hyderabad and built links with remaining parts of the country. Except looting of Hyderabad & Telangana agricultural lands nothing Seemandhra rulers did in Hyderabad.

TeluguBidda from Ann Arbor

In any case, you can't stop Andhra Seema folks from moving to HYD or other parts of TG, as it would be unconstitutional to do so (just as it would be to try and stop non-AP folks from moving to HYD). And so there was/is no good reason to divide AP. The "Telangana movement" has always been fueled by irrational and undeserved regionalistic hate campaign, as well as the ego of one man (KCR). Telagana folks (I am one) will come to regret it some 20-30 years from now if the bifurcation (which was done w/o gaining the consent of all of the stake-holders) is allowed by the supreme court of India to stand.

Hyderabadii from Doha

You can move anywhere in the country as constitution of India gives full rights & powers to all citizens of the country to move freely anywhere but you need to stay in Hyderabad as you people used to stay in Chennai right now after separation from Madras state with quiet and calm averring Jai Telangana slogan.

Hyderabadii

Kamalnathan Panel to Work beyond June 2

Express News Service - HYDERABAD

Published: 19th March 2014 08:44 AM

Last Updated: 19th March 2014 08:44 AM

The work of the Kamalnathan Committee _ allocating employees respectively to Telangana and residuary Andhra Pradesh _ will not end immediately after the Appointed Day and may continue for a year or two more.
“The Kamalnathan Committee not only allocates employees but also looks after the grievances of employees, if any. So, the committee will continue for one or two more years after the division of the state,” an officer explained. Such committees were continued even for 10 years in UP and other states.
According to official sources, the Centre is yet to constitute the advisory committee on allocation of employees. It has time till March 31 to constitute the committee and will officially announce the name of Kamalnathan as its chairman only then. The state administration will collect the data of employees before March 29 and submit it to Kamalnathan after the Centre constitutes the advisory panel.

Tuesday 18 March 2014

First CM to Decide on New AP Capital

Though the central government has made Hyderabad the common capital for Telangana and the residuary Andhra Pradesh states for ten years, Seemandhra leaders believe that the elected government of residuary AP will move to a new capital as early as possible.
While some officials say it could be six months, others say it may be a year. It will all depend on who the first chief minister of residuary Andhra Pradesh will be. According to official sources, the Centre will not decide the capital city for residuary AP. “There is no mention in the Constitution of powers for the Centre to identify a capital city. It is purely the prerogative of the chief minister of the state concerned,” an official said.
Officials of the directorate of town and country planning (DTCP) presented to the sub-committee on capital issues how new capital cities were developed in the country. The information, produced below, is intended to enable the first government of residuary Andhra Pradesh to identify and develop a capital city for the new state.
JAMSHEDPUR: Jamshedpur is the first planned industrial city of the country, founded by the late Jamshedji Nussewanji Tata. Julin Kennedy Sahlin from Pittsburgh, US prepared its first layout. Many areas are well planned and there are public leisure places such as the Jubilee Park. While building the city, Jamshedji Tata had said, “Be sure to lay wide streets to be lined with shade-giving trees, every other of a quick- growing variety and be sure that there is plenty of space for lawns and gardens; reserve large areas for football, hockey and parks; earmark areas for Hindu temples, Mohammedan mosques and Christian churches.”
CHANDIGARH: Chandigarh was the first planned city in the country after Independence and is known internationally for its architecture and urban design. It was designed by the French (born Swiss) architect and urban planner Le Corbusier in the 1950s for an area of 114 sq km.
After the Partition of the country, the former British province of Punjab was also split into east Punjab in India and west Punjab in Pakistan. The Indian Punjab required a new capital city to replace Lahore which became part of Pakistan’s Punjab.
Le Corbusier was the second architect of the city after the initial master plan had been prepared by American architect-planner Albert Mayer who worked with Polish-born architect Matthew Nowicki.
The New Capital Plan was conceived as post- war ‘Garden City’ wherein vertical and high-rise buildings were ruled out keeping in view the living habits of the people. The design was analogous to a human body, with a clearly defined head (Capitol Complex, Sector 1), heart (City Centre, Sector-17), lungs (leisure valley, innumerable open spaces and sector greens), intellect (cultural and educational institutions), circulatory system (network of roads, the 7 Vs) and viscera (industrial area).
BHUBANESWAR: Bhubaneswar replaced Cuttack as the capital of Orissa in 1948. Because of Cuttack’s vulnerability to floods and space constraints, the capital was moved to Bhubaneswar. The modern city was designed by German architect Otto Konigsberger in 1946. The new capital was built as a modern city with wide roads, gardens and parks.
It was subdivided into units (sectors), each with a high school, shopping centres, dispensaries and play areas. While most of the units (sectors) house government employees, Unit-V houses administrative buildings including the State Secretariat, State Assembly and the Raj Bhavan.
GANDHINAGAR: Gandhinagar was planned in 1965 for a population of 1.5 lakh. The city lies on the west bank of Sabarmati river. To make it a purely Indian enterprise, the city plan was designed by two Indian town planners, Prakash M Apte and HK Mewada, who had apprenticed with Le Corbusier in planning and designing Chandigarh.
The total area of the site is about 14,180 acres including and divided by the river (river area is about 2,000 acres). The city on the western bank is in 10,600 acres of land. Of it, about 1,700 acres along the river front (eroded land, ravines) is left out for riverside development.
Gandhinagar Master Plan was evolved for development of a balanced and healthy community socially as well as economically, as its central theme.
The living areas, work areas and recreational areas have been so inter-related that the time spent by people in commuting to work and back will be minimum.
Thirty sectors, into which the city has been divided, stretch around the central government complex. Each sector has its own shopping and community centre, primary school, health centre, government and private housing. There is a provision for parks, extensive planting and a recreational area along the river giving the city a green garden-city atmosphere.
NAYA RAIPUR: Naya Raipur will be the fourth planned capital city after Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar and Gandhinagar. New Raipur is the upcoming capital of Chhattisgarh being built 17 km away from and in the south-eastern direction of the existing capital Raipur. The project is likely to cost anywhere between Rs 1,500 and 2,000 crore .
Naya Raipur will at once serve as the administrative capital of the state and cater to the infrastructure needs of industry and trade in the region.
Naya Raipur spreads over an area of about 8,000 hectares and it includes 41 villages, of which 27 form the core of the new city. The population of just one village is getting displaced in this renovation of villages for the construction of Naya Raipur.
About half the total acquired land is being used for afforestation, roads, parks, public conveniences, water facilities, canals, green belts, etc. Around 23 per cent of the land will be reserved for educational institutions, government offices and public auditoriums; and 30 per cent for residential and commercial purposes.

comments

Ananth from Bandra

An informative and interesting article. However the article could have added Newdelhi too and the contribution of Panthji in building it.Andhra Pradesh sans Hyderabad region in the formative year had its capital zeroed in at Karnool. But once Hyderabad was added to its kitty the entire emphasis shifted to that place. It would be interesting to know now which city or its adjoining area will be crowned as its capital in near future. Let them plan a economical and reliable internal transport system for the people who will reside in it and for all the visitors from nook and corner of the state. This I found to be missing in other capitals which were built earlier.

anonymous from Vijayawada

coming elections would also equally punish the anarchy vibhajaneswaras and vibhajeeswaries both he bifurcationists and she bifurcationists for the roles played by them and chalk out for the impendingn unification of indian germany, i.e., seemandhra and tellenghana. already the vision social telengana nomiating a backward or sc/st cm has been phooh-phooed by srt dubhaishekhar and the gimmicks of khonghresh to plant world peace as prospective cm is sensed by raoraheemandreddy company. so nothing remains for telengana willianfox to become chief chief. several deputy chiefs r to be appointed for twincity deputy chief, gifthill and warangal chief, medak chief, palamuru chief all ADHARMAMAHAMATRAS.

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Jalayagnam: CBI to Keep Vigil

The scale of corruption in construction of irrigation projects may come down after division of the state since the execution of all ongoing irrigation projects will directly be under the supervision of the central government. Any corruption in project works will directly be monitored by the CBI, an officer has said.
“The jurisdiction of ABC will go on irrigation projects. Now, the central investigation agency, CBI, will come into picture and directly monitor the project works. CBI sleuths may directly go to a small section office of any irrigation project,” a top official said. The officer recalled that the CBI did not take up the investigation into the corruption charges in Jalayagnam projects stating that they would not come under its jurisdiction. “Execution of projects in future will be looked into by the CBI,” said the officer.
Irrigation officials, who are currently preparing operation guidelines on irrigation projects, have several doubts in their minds, whether the chief ministers of Telangana and Andhra will adhere to them or seek amendments to certain provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.
This is because of lack of clarity in the AP Reorganisation Act on certain issues relating to water resources management. The doubts are on how to release water from major rivers like the Krishna and Godavari. Both Telangana and Andhra have rights over irrigation water. Though Krishna and Godavari water boards will be constituted, they will directly function under the central government. “The entire water resource management is now under the central government. We will just recommend where to set up the offices of the proposed Godavari and Krishna boards,” an officer said.
As per the Reorganisation Act, the headquarters of Godavari River Management Board will be located in Telangana and the Krishna River Management Board in Andhra Pradesh. “We are finding suitable districts to locate these offices,” an officer added. “We are preparing irrigation protocols, cropping patterns, the size of the projects. We will submit the same to the central government committee. But the question is whether the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will follow our recommendations or not,” sources said.
The control of the central government over water resources will undermine the federal system. Both Telangana and Andhra governments may challenge certain provisions of the Act in future, said another officer.
Principal secretary (irrigation) Aditya Nath Das will attend a meeting with the Central Water Commission chairman on ‘Protocol for projects in Krishna Basin’ in Delhi on March 18.

Sunday 16 March 2014

Guidelines Issued on State Staff Allocation to T, AP

The state administration has issued operational guidelines for allocation of employees between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Following a meeting with officials of the department of personnel and training (DoPT) in Delhi on Thursday, the state administration issued guidelines on Friday for allocation of employees. Sources said that the central committee may not meet the employee unions but go ahead with its plans. The detailed guidelines on allocation of employees will be issued by the Centre in two weeks.
However, the state administration is collecting information on 56,000 state-level employees for their allocation to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The employees have to furnish the details in the prescribed format.
The seniority position, name, father/husband’s name, employment date, date of birth, date from which working in the current location, gender, office where working and working status. The head of each department has to certify the details.
“We will collect these details by March 29. If any employee fails to furnish the information, the allocation of such an employee will be decided by the government,” official sources said.
The operational guidelines state, “It may be noted that all posts in the local, district, zonal and multi-zonal cadres that fall entirely in one of the successor states will stand allocated to that state on the appointed day. Similarly, the posts in the departments/institutions/special offices/major projects that fall solely and serve exclusively one of the states will devolve to that state.
All secretaries have to prepare a structure of administration at the field level and the inventory of all posts in the field and submit the same to the State Reorganisation Cell by March 29. It is emphasised that the above exercise will have no reference to the persons occupying the posts and, therefore, has to be a totally objective exercise keeping in view the effectiveness of administration,” the orders said.
Simultaneously, the department will have to prepare an inventory of all officers, including those on long leave of any nature, under training, deputation, other duty, foreign service, work order deployment, suspension, unauthorised absence, etc., latest by March 18.
The secretary concerned should also indicate if any post could be surrendered to a common pool/finance department. The details should also include sanctioned posts, including the vacant posts.
Deadlines
■ March 25: Details of all files
■ March 25: Inventory of assets
■ March 29: Information on all posts existing on March 1

Friday 14 March 2014

Panel against Levy of Central Sales Tax on Telangana-Seemandhra Trade

Express News Service
Hyderabad, March 13:
Whether it will be a free-trade zone or sales taxes will be levied on inter-state trade and commerce post division of the State. As it is the Central Sales Tax (CST) will be applicable to both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh post division of the State.
However, the sub-committee on "Resource Mobilisation" recommends not to levy CST on goods transported from Telangana to Andhra Pradesh and vice versa. This is because if the CST is levied, then the prices of the goods will go up and it will be a burden on the people of the both the states.
"We recommend not levy CST on inter-state trade and commerce. But, the chief ministers of both the states sit together and take a decision on the matter post division of the state," an official said.
For example, the manufacture of the liquor is high in Telangana and the consumption is high in Seemandhra, because of the high density of the population.
"Once the liquor is manufactured and trasnported to Andhra Pradesh post division, then CST will be levied in Telangana and VAT will be collected in Andhra Pradesh," explained an officer. The CST is two percent now. It means that the CST and VAT will increase the end price of the goods. This will applicable to all goods transported between the two sates.
"The Chief Ministers of both the states should declare a holiday for some period on collecting taxes on inter-state trade," officers are likely to recommend.
However, the sharing of revenue between the two states will not be a problem. The motor vehicle tax, land registration, excise will be collected in their respective areas. There will be no problem for vehicles paid life tax. As far as the commercial vehicles are they have to pay quarterly tax. If the vehicle is registered in one region and operating in other region, the collection of quarterly tax will become a problem. "We are working out the modalities for this," sources said.

AUGMENT OF REVENUES: The officials are also suggesting the means to augment the revenues of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states. After the division, both the states need more money for construction or reconstruction of the respective states. "We cannot increase the excise revenue. As the State is getting highest revenue. Any increase in the excise duty, it will lead to illicit liquor trade," sources explained. The best means is that to improve the mining revenue. "Around 700 per cent to 1,000 per cent increase in mining revenue is possible in both the states. Due to the current mining policy, the government is getting only hundreds of crores rupees and the contractors are earning thousands of crores. The changes in mining policy will fetch more revenue for both the states," the sources explained.

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Brown or Green : Capital quest

Express News Service
Hyderabad, March 12:
For establishing new capital city for the residuary Andhra Pradesh - the moot question before the officials is that whether to have a "Brown Capital" or "Green Capital".
The Brown Capital means developing capital in or around 5 to 10 km radius in the existing and developed city.
The Green Capital means that to acquire 10,000 hectares to 20,000 hectares in outside the existing cities in Seemandhra and develop capital.
However, the State sub-committee constituted for the "New Capital Issues", the committee will only assist the Central government committee which has to be constituted for identifying the new capital for residuary AP.
The officials of the sub-committee of the State government spoke to the Union Ministry officials on Wednesday. "The Centre did not constitute any committee till date. As the officials are busy with the election work, the committee may be constituted only after the elections. As there is six months time after the Appointed Day", an officer dealing with "New Capital Issues" told Express.
Official sources said that the Central government committee too would not decide the new capital for the residuary AP. "Identifying the new capital is a political decision. From which area the first Chief Minister of the residuary Andhra Pradesh hails is most important," the official sources said indicating that the probable Chief Minister would insist for his home town as new capital of AP. The Central government has to take political decision in establishing the new capital, the sources said.
However, the officials added that they were ready for Brown or Green Capital. "In the olden days, the civilisation based around rivers. Now, we can lay pipelines and supply water within three months time to any location, if it is a Green Capital," an officer said.
If it was a Brown capital all the existing and developed cities right from Srikakulam to Nellore were suitable for new capital, the sources added. But, the road, rail and airport connectivity will be taken into consideration
Sources also recalled that in the new capital of Uttarakhand, Collector Bungalow was used as Chief Minister's officer and polytechnic college was used as Secretariat.
When establishing the new capital, the officials were also thinking on "concentrated capital" or "distributed capital". Concentrated capital means all the offices would be located in one area along with Secretariat. But, the distributed capital means that the High Court would be located in one city, the Secretariat in another city, Legislative Assembly in one city and the Heads of Departments in other cities.
   There were six proposals on locating new capital with Group of Ministers, according to Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh. The six locations included Amaravathi in Guntur district, Visakhapatnam and Kurnool.
   Though there is a demand for Kurnool city as new capital, the negative points for considering the Kurnool are that it is prone to frequent floods and flooding due to back waters of Srisailam Dam and shortage of drkinking water.
If the Central government decides to go for Green Capital, there were three proposals. Donakonda, Nagarjuna Sagar and Nuzvid.
If Donakonda in Prakasam district is considered, the surrounding settlements of Donakonda like Yerrabalem, Gangadona Konda, Vabbapuram, West Gangavaram and Abbya Palem etc can be included in the new capital. There was a airstrip in Donakonda developed by the Britishers. However, Donakonda has no proper rail or road connectivity and more over there is an acute water shortage. The Capital in Donakonda is not possible due to its negative factors
Another proposed location is Nagarjuna Sagar in Guntur district.
It is centrally located for Seemandhra. The surrounding settlements like Macharla, Kothapalle,, Chinthala Thanda, Rayavaram, Rachamallipadu and Kambhampadu can be included in the proposed new capital city. An abandoned runway of the old airport is existing and runway is in good condition. The place has proper road connectivity and drinking water is available. This can be considered for the capital, the initial assessment of the officials stated.
Another proposal is to locate the new capital between Nuzvid and Hanuman Junction in Krishna district. Here vast extents of forest and government land is available. The surrounding settlements like Nuzividu, Kothapalli,Billanapalli,Vempadu, Kokkirapadu,    Pallerlamudi, Seetharamapuram etc can be included in the new capital project. The existing Gannvaram airport of Vijayavada, is just 20-30 km from the proposed location. The location is having proper connectivity both road and rail.

Comments

santosh from Hidd

Kurnool should be made capital. Sribagh pact clearly gives the capital to rayalaseema. this is the only way to make development in the backward rayalaseema region.

Hari

Best options for the new Andhra Capital will be 1) Nellore 2) Area between Tirupati and Nellore 3) Area between Ongole and Nellore. As Chittoor,Anantapur and Nellore will be part of Chennai - Banglore Industrial Corridor. These places will attract huge investments and create more jobs and business. Directly and Indirectly it will create more than 5 Lakh jobs in 2 to 3 years. Already more than 20 power companies with a capacity of 23000MW under construction in Nellore. 58 companies(Including biggest MNC in the world had started setting up there plant in the Sri City SEZ, Nellore and Chithoor border). 2 Major ports in the district. (5 Major ports including the 3 in chennai Ennore,Chennai & Mammallapuram) will help to develop those area substantially and attracts more manufacturing companies. All this in turn increases the income for the Residual Andhra. It will help to develop to other areas in the state with out depending on others. Major Industrial Cluster will be developed from Chennai covering Chittoor, Nellore, Anantapur and other areas in Tamilnadu. For Industries power supply is very important and if those companies are setup near the power supply areas then the distribution wastage will be less. Every thing will be benefit.

RAGHUNATH.P RAGHUNATH.P

Now a new capital has to be established for residuary Andhra Pradesh. Visakhapatnam City most probably fits the bill as new capital as it has an Airport, Harbour, Shipping yard, Eastern Naval Command, Steel Plant, Visakha refineries, Railway Divisional office etc. We should demand an IIT, demand shifting of Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, demand a new Railway Zone at Visakha. The present Waltair Railway Divisional office along with Vijayawada, Guntur,and Guntakal Divisions could be brought under this new Railway Zone. The Airport should be upgraded as an International Airport. Shifting of American Consulate from Hyderabad should be explored. The newly opened Women's Bank may be headquartered at Visakha. The city boasts few film studios. English and Telugu newspapers have edition here and private TV channels like ETV, Maa TV, Sakshi TV may open a branch here. Where is Chennai for Tamil Nadu, Mumbai for Maharashtra, Trivandrum for Kerala. Hence don't say Visakha is at a Corner place

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crucial meet on division on March 13

Express News Service
Hyderabad, March 11:
A crucial meeting on allocation of around 56,000 State-cadre employees will be held by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in Delhi on March 13. Apart from the officials of DoPT, CR Kamalanathan and Chief Secretary PK Mohanty will attend the meeting.
This meeting will broadly frame guideline on how to allocate the State government employees between Telangana and residuary Andhra Pradesh.
Kamalanathan called on Chief Secretary at Secretariat on Tuesday and discussed the issues relating to the employees' allocation. This issues will be placed before the DoPT meeting on March 13, official sources said.
The AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 gave options to the State-cadre employees to chose either Telangana or Andhra Pradesh. This option was not given for the employees during the division of three states earlier. Keeping the special situations in the state like, zonal system, 371(D) and open category issue, the option itself was given in the Act to the state government employees.
The committee to allocate government officers was constituted only after the appointed day in the three other states. It took almost three to four years to allocate the employees in three states Chaattisgarh, Jarkhand and Uttarakhand. But, allocating employees in Andhra Pradesh was constituted well before the appointed day. "The idea is to allocate on or before the appointed day. There were court cases in allocating the employees in three states. The Centre is intended to avoid court cases and complications in allocation of employees in Andhra Pradesh," an official said after the meeting with Kamalnathan on Tuesday.
What will be the structure of each government department and how to allocate employees and to close or merger of certain departments like Oilfed, Oil Seeds Corporation were broadly discussed on Tuesday. "We will give inputs to the Central government, which ultimately take a final decision. The Kamalnathan Committee is likely to consult the employees associations and take their suggestions," said an officer. There were 37 departments in Secretariat and there were 57 AIS officers.
POLICE: Meanwhile, Home Department principal secretary TP Das held a meeting with top officials of Police, Prisons, APSP, Fire and others on how to share the police force. Das also held a separate meeting with officials concerned on setting up of training centres in residuary AP for OCTOPUS and Greyhounds. Das reportedly directed the officials to prepare estimates for setting up of training centres in residuary AP. "The location of training centres is not yet decided," an official told Express.
According to sources there were currently 17 APSP Battalions in the state. "We need more battalions for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. We will also place requisition for more battalions and personnel. There is no proposal to wind up SPF wing," an officer said. Police were part of the 56,000 state-cadre officers to be allocated between two states. Above DySP rank comes under state cadre and the CIs comes under zonal category.

ends

Saturday 8 March 2014

Two States to Share 56,000 of 84,000 State Staff

Express News Service
Hyderabad, March 6:

The officials of Department of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (DoPT) headed by retired IAS officer CR Kamalnathan today held preliminary discussions with Chief Secretary PK Mohanty on the allocation of state level employees to both Telangana and the residuary Andhra Pradesh.
The Kamalnathan committee was constituted to allocate the state-level officers working in the State government, which excludes All India Service (AIS) officers. The allocation of AIS will be decided by another committee.
DoPT joint secretary Archana Varma, director State Reorganisation division of DoPT Kimbuong Kipgen, under secretary Sarangadhar Nayak and other officials called on the Chief Secretary along with Kamalnathan.
"This is a preliminary round of talks. On how to apply the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 in allocating the state level officers," an officer told Express after the meeting.
According to preliminary estimates, the sanctioned strength of state-level officers was around 84,000 and the employees to be allocated was around 56,000. However, the exact number could be arrived after the 15 sub-committees, constituted for division process, submitted their reports on assets, liabilities and cadre strength. They would likely to submit their reports by the end of March.
The final report would submitted to Kamalanathan committee, which will decide the matter as per the guidelines of the Central government committees, sources said.
"The DoPT officials today discussed about the Reorganisation modalities, allocation of employees and the special situations in Andhra Pradesh and also the experience of division process in three other States," the sources said.
According to sources, the cadre strength of all departments was available with the Finance Department. But, the accurate figures can be arrived only after the sub-committees submitted their reports.
The 84,000 employees of state-level were included Police department, the sources said.
   The SR Division of the DoPT is entrusted with the responsibility of allocation of the State government employees of state cadre, who have all state transfer liability.
   The Reorganisation Act only provide for the brief outlines and fundamental principles of reorganisation. So, it was necessary to work out the modalities and frame the detailed guidelines to carry out the reorganisation process. That was why Kamalnathan committee was constituted, sources said.
   The DoPT says that the broad principle of allocation of State cadre employees which inter alia include allocation first by ‘option’, followed by ‘domicile’ (Home District) and lastly by inclusion of ‘junior most’ personnel in the reverse order of seniority.
If the number of posts allocated to a successor State is more than the total number of ‘optees’ and ‘domicile’ (home district), in order to fill up the balance posts, the employees lower down in the seniority position in the cadre are considered for allocation even against their options.
Option once exercised by the employees is not reversible. Keeping in view the resentment expressed by the employees who were allocated on domicile and juniority basis against their willingness, several exceptions were made to the guidelines to facilitate certain class of employees to be allocated to the States of their option, the DoPT sources said.

ends

No entry into Secretariat

Express News Service
Hyderabad, March 6:

The entry of outsiders into the Secretariat was barred with immediate effect. With the division process at a brisk pace, the State Secretariat, the abode of administration, was declared as restricted area. Outsiders were not allowed to enter into the sections or offices located in the Secretariat, especially in the C Block which houses General Administration Department.
Heavy security was placed near the main entrance of the Secretariat, through which the Chief Minister or Chief Secretary enters in the Secretariat. The Chief Ministers' public relations office too was closed and locked on Thursday. The staff attached in the CPRO was sent to their parent departments.
Now, even scribes should take prior appointment to meet the Chief Secretary.
The principal secretary (Political) N Siva Sankar issued orders to this effect and displayed these orders in all important places in the Secretariat.
The orders stated that "in the meeting convened by the Chief Secretary on February 25 with special chief secretaries, principal secretaries and secretaries on the follow up action on AP Reorganisation, Bill, a decision was taken not to allow any unauthorised persons into sections/offices of Secretariat with immediate effect. All the officers staff are further directed not to take any files unauthorisedly outside the secretariat.
The Chief secretary, is directed to ensure compliance of these instructions scrupulously," the orders stated. The orders were circulated to all departments in the Secretariat.
Accordingly, the security personnel on duty were denying the entry into the key sections and offices of the Secretariat from Thursday.

ends

Defer civic poll results

Express News Service
Hyderabad, March 5:

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Bhanwar Lal will seek the clarification of the Election Commission of India (ECI) whether to declare the results of the civic body polls or not. Declaring of results of civic body polls will be decided as per the direction given by the ECI.
The CEO took this decision as the representatives of all the five political parties, who attended the meeting with CEO wanted defer the deceleration of outcome of civic body polls.
It may be recalled that the State Election Commission (SEC) issued notification for conducting polls to 10 Municipal Corporations and 146 municipalities and Nagar Panchayats. The polling will be held on March 30 and the results will be declared on April 2.
However, the political parties contended that declaring the results of civic bodies will act as an "exit poll" for the ensuing Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The first phase of polls for Assembly will be held on April 30, 28 days after the civic body polls are out.
The political parties said that the outcome of civic body polls will influence the voters in the Assembly elections and wanted the CEO to see that the results are not declared till the Assembly elections are over.
If the ECI, wanted the SEC to postpone the civic body results, then the results will be declared only after May 7, on which date the second phase of Assembly and Lok Sabha will be completed.

Bhanwar Lal said that he would write to ECI stating that the political parties wanted deferment of poll results of civic bodies. "Whether the results of civic bodies will be out before Assembly elections or not will be decided based on the directive comes from the ECI," Bhanwar Lal said.

ends

Spare our officers : CS to EC

Express News Service
Hyderabad, March 5:

Chief Secretary PK Mohanty requested the Election Commission India (ECI) to spare the IAS officers from the state from the election related work. Normally, the IAS officers from one state will go to another state as election observers during general elections.
But, this time the State was in a peculiar situation. Almost all IAS officers were busy with the State's division work and bifurcating their respective departments into two. The bifurcation work is a hectic one and they have to complete the entire division work, including photo copying or digitalising files in all the departments before June 2, the day on officially two states will form.
However, for the general elections, the ECI wanted the State administration to allot at least 100 IAS officers for election work. Initially, the State administration agreed to send around 50 IAS officers. But, with the heavy work of division on hand and deadline is fast approaching, the Chief Secretary reportedly informed the ECI that Andhra Pradesh could not even spare even 25 IAS officers.
According to sources, the Chief Secretary informed the ECI that they could not utilise the services of officers below the cadre of Secretary level.

ends

plunk
Definition:	To throw or place heavily or abruptly.
Synonyms:	plonk, plump, flump, plank, plop

V. V. Balakrishna Journalist

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Saturday 29 March 2014

Expert Panel Formed to Find a Capital for AP

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State to Centre: Correct Errors in AP Reorganisation Act

‘Include Development of T Film Industry in Manifestos’

Scanner Shortage Hits File Digitisation

Settle All Key Issues by May 15: Governor

Saturday 22 March 2014

Dept-wise Work Allocated to Five Senior Officials

No Money for Even Drains but Parties Promise the Moon

Two CMs to Function From the Same Secretariat

Buildings to be apportioned to 2 States

Thursday 20 March 2014

All India Service Officers Left with No Options

Tucker to head SR Dept

Andhra Pradesh Division Work to End by May 1

Kamalnathan Panel to Work beyond June 2

Tuesday 18 March 2014

First CM to Decide on New AP Capital

Jalayagnam: CBI to Keep Vigil

Sunday 16 March 2014

Guidelines Issued on State Staff Allocation to T, AP

Friday 14 March 2014

Panel against Levy of Central Sales Tax on Telangana-Seemandhra Trade

Brown or Green : Capital quest

crucial meet on division on March 13

Saturday 8 March 2014

Two States to Share 56,000 of 84,000 State Staff

No entry into Secretariat

Defer civic poll results

Spare our officers : CS to EC

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