200 Khammam Villages to be Transferred to AP after May 7

By VV Balakrishna - HYDERABAD

Published: 02nd May 2014 08:18 AM

Last Updated: 02nd May 2014 08:20 AM

After the second phase of polling in Seemandhra on May 7, the Central government may merge around 200 villages of Khammam district with residuary Andhra Pradesh.
Sources in the irrigation department said the Centre may not wait till the Appointed Day, but come out with an ordinance after May 7, before the Appointed Day.
After the Appointed Day, the Centre has to draft a bill for the merger of the villages and it has to be sent to both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments. After the Appointed Day, Article 3 of the Constitution will come into the picture for transferring villages from one state to another.
“Telangana government may raise objections to the transfer, post-Appointed Day. So, the Centre will come out with an ordinance before that,” the sources said.
Sources also pointed out that transfer of some villages from one district to another district in the combined state may not be a problem and even the Governor could do it by giving necessary orders. Till the Appointed Day, the State is one unit, sources pointed out.
It may be recalled that after the AP Reorganisation Act was passed, the Centre suddenly tried to bring an ordinance for the transfer of villages from Khammam to residuary AP.
“The file relating to transfer of villages has been circulated in Delhi,” sources said.
The Centre did not take any decision as the Election Code was in force. The Centre also thought transferring of villages would cause problems in conducting the elections. The electorate in Khammam villages would face problems in casting votes. So, the Centre waited all these days. Once, the elections in Seemandhra are over, the Centre may transfer the villages,” sources said.
Polavaram Problems
Meanwhile, sources in the irrigation department felt it was not easy to construct the Polavaram project, even if 200 villages are transferred from Telangana to Andhra. The Centre has decided to float an SPV to construct the project and bear the entire cost. It will also finalise the tenders.
“But, already the state government entrusted Rs 4,000 crore worth work to Transtroy company and the works had commenced. The question is will the Centre continue with the same company or drop it,” the sources said. If the Centre decides to cancel the Transtroy contract, it has to pay damages to the company. If the contract is cancelled who will pay for the work already done--Centre or State?
Madhucon company, which failed to get the contract, already approached the court for damages. Will the Centre pay the damages or pass the burden on to the State? Such issues would pose a problem for the construction of Polavaram, besides objections being raised by the Telangana government.