Promises to Andhra pradesh, Telangana may not take off
Several promises made by the Centre may remain distant dreams
Hyderabad: Several promises made by the Centre to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana may remain distant dreams going by the response from the respective Central ministries.
The much talked about special package for Andhra Pradesh including tax incentives to new industries will become a reality only if the National Development Council agrees to it. The existing norms of special package for states in any way will not favour Andhra Pradesh whose fate will now be in hands of NDC.
A confidential note circulated by the Ministry of Home Affairs joint secretary Suresh Kumar on the eve of Union Cabinet Secretary Ajit Kumar Seth’s talks with Chief Secretary Dr P.K. Mohanty on Friday revealed the departments’ responses.
Official sources told this newspaper that the cabinet secretary reviewed the progress of division along with the responses from the Central departments. The
Chief Secretary also held discussions with former CVC Pratysh Sinha who has been appointed as chairman of the committee that will allot All India services officers to the two states.
Sources said the CS conveyed the opinion of the AIS officers working in the state that they should be given an option. Another way of cadre allotment is through lottery, sources pointed out. Mr Sinha suggested that the associations could represent their view point to the committee before April 15.
Besides turning down the new railway zone in AP, the Railways also turned down the rail coach factory in Telangana stating that planned capacity of existing plant itself is sufficient for future needs. On setting up a 4,000 MW power plant in Telangana by the NTPC, the coal ministry made it clear that no new coal linkage would be available and NTPC has to readjust its present allocations if it wanted to set up plant in Telangana.
The HRD ministry did not even respond to the proposals of setting up a tribal university in the two states.